Arrow Root (Maranta arundinaceae)
Folk Names: Araruta, Bermuda Arrowroot, East Indian Arrowroot, Indian Arrowroot, Maranta Arrowroot, Maranta Indica, Maranta Ramosissima, Maranta Starch, West Indian Arrowroot
Description: Arrowroot is indigenous to the West Indian Islands and possibly Central America. The name, Arrowroot, is a corruption of the Aru-root of the Aruac Indians of South America. It is a leafy perennial with a creeping rhizome root. The root features upward-curving, fleshy, cylindrical tubers covered in large, thin scales that produce rings of scars. The leaves are ovate and glabrous measuring from two to ten inches long. Long sheaths often envelope the stem. The flowering stem may reach a height of six feet. It is topped by pairs of cream-colored flowers at the ends of slender branches that terminate in long peduncles.
Effects:
Planet: Jupiter
Element:
Associated Deities:
Traditions:
none noted
Magic:
Arrowroot will increase good luck and bring new opportunities to your attention.
The mashed root is said to be an antidote for arrow-poison, as well as poisonous insect stings (scorpions and spiders), and gangrene.
Known Combinations:
none noted
Medical Indications: Parts Used : starch of rhizome
Arrowroot is easily digested and is suitable for convalescents, especially those recovering from bowel problems. The fresh juice, mixed with water is said to be a good treatment for vegetable poisons.
Nutrition:
Arrowroot powder is used as a thickening agent in cooking. It may also be purchased in the form of a pudding and the roots may be candied like eryngo.
Mercantile Uses:
Starch is harvested from the roots when the plants are no more than a year old. The rhizome is washed and pulped in wooden mortars. Clean water is added and the fibers are wrung out by hand. The resultant milky liquid is sieved, allowed to settle, and drained. More water is added, mixed, and drained, and the starch is dried in sheets in the sun. The starch produced is about one-fifth the original weight of the rhizome. Though potato starch is sometimes substituted, being similar in chemical and nutritional value, it has a slightly unpleasant taste. Pure Arrowroot has no smell and no unpleasant taste. Rice, tapioca, and sago starches are also sometimes substituted.