Purple Stem Arrowroot - Maranta arundinacea

A rarer more ornamental purple skinned and stemmed version of the common arrowroot, this perennial starchy root species can be processed into a thickening agent or used as a root crop. This type has more ornamental quality than the normal type and is a good "secret" food crop in an HOA garden type situation.

A perennial species that will fully go dormant over the winter, and resprout in the spring, the long fleshy roots can be saved and used as propagation material to increase your arrowroot patch. 

One of the most ancient cultivated crops of South America, its assumed to be originally native to the Amazon but prehistoric humans have moved it well beyond its native range due to its high food utility - this arrowroot species has the largest starch grain size of any plant. Processing unfortunately can be difficult as the roots have a strong fiber running throughout. Most success is found by blending with water in a very high powered blender and decanting off the water and fibers a few times before the pure starch can be left to fully dry and be saved. 

Prefers rich soil in dappled shade, and growing maybe 3ft tall maximum, this is a good food forest species that can be tucked into areas around fruit trees and other larger plants.