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prayerplant
Scientific Name: Maranta leuconeura
Family: Marantaceae
Category: Monocot
Growth:
Duration:
Other Names:
Maranta leuconeura: The Prayer Plant
The prayer plant, scientifically known as Maranta leuconeura, is a popular houseplant admired for its unique leaf movements.
Common Names
- Prayer Plant
- Ten Commandments
- Rabbit's Foot
- Rabbit Track
- Herringbone Plant
- Praying Hands
- Maranta
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Maranta leuconeura
- Family: Marantaceae (also known as the Prayer Plant or Arrowroot family)
- Synonyms: Mentions of Calathea insignis as a common name, however, it is also listed with a different family
- Variations:
- Maranta leuconeura kerchoveana: A variation with cream leaves and darker green splotches, lacking red veins.
- Maranta leuconeura erythroneura
Considerations for Pets
- While some sources list Calathea insignis of the Marantaceae family as non-toxic to dogs and cats, this requires verification as it is not the same species.
Considerations for Children
- The plant's association with the act of prayer might be of interest to children, potentially leading to interaction.
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to tropical Central and South America, particularly Brazil.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- Perennial herbaceous plant.
- Showy, oval-shaped leaves with light-and-dark-green feathered patterns and red veins (often red underneath).
- Leaves fold together at night, resembling hands in prayer.
- Grows in crowded clumps of elliptic leaves with blunt ends.
- Typically reaches a height and width of approximately 12 inches.
- Rarely blooms indoors.
- Spreading plant with showy leaves.
Cultivation and Care
- Ideal for rooms with moderate to low lighting, such as east or north-facing rooms.
- Prefers bright, indirect sunlight.
- Requires moderate watering to keep the soil evenly moist.
- Repotting is recommended in the spring if necessary.
- May be susceptible to leaf tip burn from chlorine or fluoride in water.
Quirky Facts
- The prayer plant earned its name due to its nyctinastic movements where the leaves fold upwards at night, resembling praying hands, and unfold during the day.