Revision of Maranta subgen. Maranta (Marantaceae)

Maranta subgen. Maranta includes species related to M. arundinacea L. It is characterized by aerial shoots with a strong monopodial tendency, absence of root tubers, simple inflorescences or few-branched, often diffuse synflorescences, florescences with few, herbaceous spathes, and comparatively large, distinctly pedicellate flowers. There are occasional exceptions to all these characters. Most species are partial selfers, only two or three being allogamous. Sixteen species are recognized, eight of which are new: M. linearis, M. sobolifera, M. lindmanii, M. zingiberina, M. incrassata, M. rupicola, M. amazonica , and M. tuberculata. The new species are described, and all species are defined and discussed, data being given about distribution and habitat. Growth habit and rhizome structure are essential taxonomic characters, but leaf shape and indument distribution are more useful characters for routine identification. Of the species referred to subgen. Automaranta by Schumann in Das Pflanzenreich, three are excluded: M. cordata, M. pohliana , and M. foliosa.