Scientific Name:
Maranta leuconeura
Pronunciation:
muh-RAN-tuh loo-ko-NYOOR-uh
Common Name:
prayer plant, rabbit tracks, herringbone plant
Family Name:
Marantaceae
Plant Type:
Indoor foliage plant
Key ID Features:
Trailing tropical plant; leaves alternate, broadly elliptic to oblong-obovate, most 12-14cm long x 7-8cm wide, squarish dark green patches with triangular notches arranged along the midrib or striking venation (M. 'Erythroneura' is red veined), margins entire and fold together with apex pointed upward at night as if in prayer.
Habit:
Horizontal, Pendulous
Form:
Oval - horizontal
Texture:
Medium - coarse
Mature Height:
0.2 - 0.4m
Mature Spread:
0.3 - 0.6m
Growth Rate:
Moderate
Origin:
South America
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 11: (above 4 °C)
Exposure:
Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Well-drained
Water Use:
Moderate
Landscape Uses:
Hanging basket, Indoor plant
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Pinnate venation
Surfaces:
Lustrous
Colour in Summer:
Green, Red, Red veins, purple undersides
Shapes:
Elliptic, Oblong, Obovate
Apices:
Acute, Rounded, Truncate
Bases:
Obtuse
Margins:
Entire
Additional Info:
Leaves variegated
Inflorescence Type:
Raceme
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
3
Corolla Shape:
Bilabiate
Ovary Position:
Inferior
Colour (petals):
Not showy, White, Purple
Flower Time at Peak:
Mar
Additional Info:
Rarely flowers indoors
Fruit Type:
Capsule
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Additional Info:
Fruit insignificant
Bark Morphology:
Smooth
Bark or Stem Colour:
Green, Red
Organ Modifications:
Fleshy monocot roots, Rhizomes
Propagation:
Division - below ground parts, Stem tip cuttings
Optimal Temp.:
High
Light Level:
Medium
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
Mealybugs, Mites, Root rot (Pest resistant, Disease resistant)
