Arrowroot/ Maranta arundinacea/හුලංකීරිය

I have not tasted an arrowroot in years. I have been asking everybody to find me some to plant in my garden, but it was only last week a girl working in the hospital brought me a few small plants a root. I have planted them all, and keep you posted of their progress.

What's the plant? ආටිචෝක් අල ?

This is a plant that grows spontaneously in the lowland wet zone of Sri Lanka, and could have been an introduced species. My guess is that it belongs ginger family, the foliage looks similar to Turmeric. Folks here call it Artichoke, but I know a for fact that Artichoke is totally a different plant.

The plant has a rhizome that grows and sends up shoots.The roots sprouting from the rhizome bear potato like tubers that are delicious when boiled. If any body could help me identify this  plant, I will be grateful.

 

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