Prayer plant (
Maranta leuconeura) is a species of low-growing plant in the family Marantaceae, native to Southwest Asia, and the West Indies. The genus name is named after a 16th century Italian physician and botanist, Bartolommeo Maranthi.
Prayer plant is a tuberous plant commonly grown as a houseplant, and only cultivars are marketed.
Maranta leuconeura var. kerchoviana (Rabbit tracks) is an evergreen perennial, 30 cm tall, with 4-5 dark brown patches between the vein and the margin. The dark brown patches become greener with age. The oblong leaves are bright green, and pale green on the reverse side, and are upright at night, flat by day. It intermittently bears white to mauve flowers.
Propagation is by cuttings or by root division.
Prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura)Author:
Kurt Stuber (
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)