Definition

1. Noun:
   • A white-flowered West Indian plant whose root yields arrowroot starch: "American arrowroot" refers specifically to a tropical plant native to the West Indies, characterized by its white flowers. The primary value of this plant lies in its root, which is processed to produce a fine, edible starch known as arrowroot.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The farmer cultivated American arrowroot for its valuable starch.
  • Arrowroot powder, derived from the root of the American arrowroot, is a common thickening agent in cooking.

Advanced Usage

• Botanical Context: In botanical or agricultural texts, "American arrowroot" is used to specify this particular species () as opposed to other plants whose roots may also yield similar starches.
  • The study focused on the cultivation techniques for American arrowroot in the Caribbean.

Variants and Related Words

• Arrowroot (n): The name of the starch itself, or a more general term for plants yielding this starch. "American arrowroot" is a specific source of "arrowroot."
  • The recipe calls for two tablespoons of arrowroot.

Synonyms

• Maranta (n): The botanical genus name for this plant.
• Bermuda arrowroot (n): Another common name for the same plant species.

Noun

1. white-flowered West Indian plant whose root yields arrowroot starch