Calathea

Foliage Calathea leaves are often large and colorfully patterned. The leaves are often variegated with bright colors such as pink, orange, red, and white. The underside of their leaves are frequently purple. During the night, the leaves fold up. In the morning, the leaves unfurl in search of the morning sun. This phenomenon, known as nyctinasty, is made possible by a small joint the plant possesses between the stem and leaf, called a pulvinus. Flowers Calathea flowers can be yellow, purple, and white and bloom in the summer. The flowers have an asymmetrical structure with three petals and three free sepals. Calathea bracts are often more attractive than its flowers. == Cultivation ==

In suitable conditions, calatheas can grow up to three feet in height with wide leaves. Though they are slow growers, once they reach their ultimate height they will stop growing. Light Like the shady floors of the tropical canopies, this genus prefers low to medium light. Propagation Plant propagation is the process of creating an offspring of a plant through a mother plant. Calathea achieve propagation through division. To successfully propagate a calathea, one needs to have a healthy established mother plant. After removing the mother plant from its pot, the plant can be gently separated into smaller parts. Once the calathea has been successfully divided, each new grouping must be planted in its own (well-draining) pot. The newly established calathea will soon shoot out new leaves and continue to grow. == Native uses ==

In its native range, the large and tough leaves are popular for holding small items. Sometimes, they are used unprocessed, e.g. to wrap fish for transport in parts of Brazil, such as the Benevides region of Pará . In other places, the leaves are used in handicraft to produce containers, such as the quivers of the Nukak people of Colombia . Most famous, perhaps, are the decorative Calathea-leaf rice containers produced in some villages of Thailand, especially in Ban Huak (Amphoe Si Bun Rueang) where they are an important source of income and sold to locals and tourists alike . Calathea foliage is of importance to some herbivores, such as the caterpillars of the purple owl (Caligo beltrao) which feed on C. zebrina . For a list of Calathea diseases, see List of foliage plant diseases (Marantaceae). Due to habitat destruction, several species are threatened with extinction . == Native regions ==

Calathea are native to parts of tropical Latin America and were introduced in Hawaii. The genus is native to the following countries and regions: • Belize • Bolivia • Brazil • Colombia • Costa Rica • Ecuador • El Salvador • French Guiana • Guatemala • Guyana • Honduras • Jamaica • Leeward Islands • Mexico • Nicaragua • Panamá • Peru • Puerto Rico • Suriname • Trinidad and Tobago • Venezuela • Venezuelan Antilles • Windward Islands == List of species ==

The following species are accepted: • Calathea anderssonii H.Kenn. • Calathea anulque H.Kenn. • Calathea asplundii H.Kenn. • Calathea barryi H.Kenn. • Calathea brenesii Standl. • Calathea caesariata H.Kenn. • Calathea calderon-saenzii H.Kenn. & M.Serna • Calathea carlae H.Kenn. • Calathea casupito (Jacq.) G.Mey. • Calathea chiriquensis H.Kenn. • Calathea cofaniorum H.Kenn. • Calathea confusa H.Kenn. • Calathea congesta H.Kenn. • Calathea croatii H.Kenn. • Calathea crotalifera S.Watson • Calathea erythrolepis L.B.Sm. & Idrobo • Calathea fredgandersii H.Kenn. • Calathea fredii H.Kenn. • Calathea galdamesiana H.Kenn. & Rod.Flores • Calathea gentryi H.Kenn. • Calathea grandifolia Lindl. • Calathea guzmanioides L.B.Sm. & Idrobo • Calathea hagbergii H.Kenn. • Calathea harlingii H.Kenn. • Calathea inscripta (W.Bull) N.E.Br. • Calathea ischnosiphonoides H.Kenn. • Calathea jondule H.Kenn. & Hammel • Calathea lanibracteata H.Kenn. • Calathea lanicaulis H.Kenn. • Calathea lasiostachya Donn.Sm. • Calathea lateralis (Ruiz & Pav.) Lindl. • Calathea latrinotecta H.Kenn. • Calathea lutea (Aubl.) E.Mey. ex Schult. • Calathea marantina (Willd. ex Körn.) K.Koch • Calathea monstera H.Kenn. • Calathea multispicata H.Kenn. & M.Serna • Calathea neillii H.Kenn. • Calathea neurophylla H.Kenn. • Calathea nitens (W.Bull) Ender • Calathea oscariana H.Kenn. • Calathea platystachya Standl. & L.O.Williams • Calathea pluriplicata H.Kenn. • Calathea plurispicata H.Kenn. • Calathea ravenii H.Kenn. • Calathea recurvata H.Kenn. • Calathea retroflexa H.Kenn. • Calathea rubribracteata H.Kenn. • Calathea shishicoensis H.Kenn. • Calathea similis H.Kenn. • Calathea spiralis H.Kenn. • Calathea striata H.Kenn. • Calathea tarrazuensis H.Kenn. • Calathea timothei H.Kenn. • Calathea toroi S.Suárez • Calathea trianae L.B.Sm. & Idrobo • Calathea utilis H.Kenn. • Calathea velutinifolia H.Kenn. • Calathea verruculosa H.Kenn. • Calathea yawankama H.Kenn. == References ==