Definition

1. Noun:
   • A tropical plant: The "obedience plant" is a common name for a white-flowered West Indian plant (Maranta arundinacea) whose rhizome (underground stem) is the source of arrowroot starch.

Usage Notes

• The term "obedience plant" is primarily used as a common name for a specific botanical species. It is not typically used in general conversation but is found in gardening, botanical, or culinary contexts.
• The name is directly linked to the plant's primary economic product: arrowroot.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The obedience plant is cultivated in tropical regions for its starch.
  • Arrowroot powder, a fine starch, is derived from the roots of the obedience plant.

Advanced Usage

• The name "obedience plant" is one of several common names for . In more technical or specific contexts, the Latin binomial name is preferred to avoid confusion with other plants.

Variants and Related Words

• Arrowroot: This is the more common name for the starch and, by extension, is often used to refer to the plant itself. For example: "The arrowroot plant is native to the Caribbean."
• Maranta: A related genus of plants, often grown as ornamentals for their decorative leaves. belongs to this genus.

Synonyms

• Arrowroot plant: The most direct synonym, emphasizing the starch-producing part.
• Maranta arundinacea: The scientific Latin name.

Related Phrases

• Source of arrowroot: This phrase is commonly used to describe the plant's primary use. For example: "The obedience plant is known as a source of arrowroot."

Noun

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