Marantaceae

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Marantaceae A family of herbs most of which have rhizomes or tubers. The petiole base is sheathing, and kneed at the top, the leaves pinnately nerved. The inflorescence is subtended by a large bract. The epipetalous flowers are hermaphrodite, zygomorphic, and trimerous, with 1 stamen. The ovary is inferior, the fruit a capsule or berry. Marantaceae are related to Musaceae. There are 31 genera, with about 550 species, occurring in the tropics, mainly in America.