Marantas

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A genus of flowering plants in the family Marantaceae, known for their colorful leaves and ornamental value in gardens
2. These plants are often referred to as prayer plants due to their unique leaf movements in response to light and darkness
3. Commonly cultivated for indoor decor, these species are characterized by their striking patterns and appealing foliage

Etymology: "Marantas" is simply the plural of "maranta", the name of a genus of tropical plants, commonly called prayer plants because their leaves fold upward at night. The singular "maranta" is the form that carries the etymology: it is named after Bartolomeo Maranta, a sixteenth-century Italian physician and botanist, whose name was given to the genus by later botanists.

Synonyms: prayer plants