any plant of the tropical American rhizomatous genus Maranta, some species of which are grown as pot plants for their showy leaves in variegated shades of green: family Marantaceae
Word origin
named after Bartolomea Maranti, died 1571, Venetian botanist
maranta in American English
(məˈrɑntə)
noun
any of a genus (Maranta) of plants of the arrowroot family, esp. a variety (M. leuconeura kerchoveana) with spotted red leaves