Marantochloa purpurea
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Marantochloa purpurea | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Zingiberales |
| Family: | Marantaceae |
| Genus: | Marantochloa |
| Species: | M. purpurea |
| Binomial name | |
| Marantochloa purpurea (Ridl.) Milne-Redh. | |
Marantochloa purpurea is a species of plant in the family Marantaceae. It is found in tropical Africa,[1] where its natural habitat is moist lowland forest. The leaf stems are used for various purposes including making string, baskets, mats and traps and the leaves are used for thatching, and for wrapping objects.
Marantochloa purpurea is a large, sometimes climbing, herb which grows to a height of 3 m (10 ft) or more. The much-branched stems grow from an extensive rhizome. The leaves are borne on petioles up to 80 cm (30 in) long, that sheath the stem for about half of their length. The leaf blades are large and ovate, but asymmetrical, with rounded bases and pointed tips, the under surfaces sometimes being purplish. The inflorescence is a lax, apical, branching panicle.[2] In West Africa and in Angola, the flowers are purple, while plants growing in Uganda and Tanzania have pale pink flowers.[3] The fruit is a red, three-lobed capsule containing three brown seeds.[2]
