Arrowroot

Arrowroot, common name for a variety of nutritious starch extracted from the roots of certain plants growing in tropical countries, or the plants from which such starch is obtained. The true arrowroot plant is native to tropical America, especially Florida, and is extensively cultivated in the West Indies. It grows up to 2 m (6 ft) high. An acre of arrowroot yields about 6 metric tons of rhizomes, or fleshy roots, from which about 1 metric ton of starch is obtained. Arrowroot, more easily digested than other forms of starch, is also obtained from other plants of the same family. Florida arrowroot is in part prepared from a cycad.

Scientific classification: Arrowroots belong to the family Marantaceae. The true arrowroot plant is classified as Maranta arundinacea. Florida arrowroot is prepared from Zamia integrifolia.