a plant; originally Maranta arundinacea, an endogenous herb with fleshy tuberous rhizomes, native to some, and cultivated in other, of the West Indian Isles; extended to other species of Maranta yielding similar products, a pure nutritious starch, prepared from the tubers of Maranta; the name has been given commercially to starches prepared from many other plants, but since the passing of the Adulteration Act, none of these may legally be sold in Great Britain as 'arrow-root', kuulub marantaliste sugukonda; tema risoommugulast saadakse kergesti seeduvat, laste ja haigete toidusse sobivat marantatärklist, mida nimetatakse ka Lääne-India aroruudiks, sest marantat kasvatatakse kõige rohkem Lääne-India saartel 2.aroruut - mitme troopilise ja lähistroopilise taime (Maranta, Curcuma, Canna, Manihot'i) mugulaist saadav toidutärklis