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Cressler, Alan

Thalia geniculata

Thalia geniculata L.

Bent Alligator-flag, Arrow Root

Marantaceae (Prayer-Plant Family)

Synonym(s): Thalia trichocalyx

USDA Symbol: THGE2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), PR (N)

The lance-shaped leaves of Bent Alligator-flag or Arrow Root, with blades 1-2 ft. long and about half as wide, have petioles up to 3 ft. long. The lax, branching inflorescence of blue & purple flowers in open panicles may be 3 ft. tall. The entire plant grows 6-10 ft. in height.

The light green foliage on their stalks gives these conspicuous plants the name �flags.� They are related to the banana and the canna.

From the Image Gallery

2 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 10 feet tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Blue , Purple
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov , Dec

Distribution

USA: AL , FL , LA
Native Distribution: FL to the West Indies
Native Habitat: Stream & pond margins; wet ditches

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Aquatic: yes
Soil Description: Shallow water or poorly drained, wet soils.

Propagation

Commercially Avail: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	OBL			OBL	OBL

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Research Literature

Reslit 661 - Response of selected nontarget native Florida wetland plant species to metsulfuron methyl (2008) J. T. Hutchinson and K. A. Langeland
Reslit 2814 - Performance evaluation of constructed wetlands in a tropical region (2009) Y. P. Katsenovich, A. Hummel-Batista, A. J. Ravine...
Reslit 2815 - Phytoremediation of wastewater with Limnocharis flava, Thalia geniculata and Typha latifolia in constructed wetlands (2013) A. K. Anning, P. E. Korsah, P. Addo-Fordjour
Reslit 2822 - Investigations on the construction of the pollination apparatus of Thalia geniculata (Marantaceae) (1991) R. Classenbockhoff
Reslit 2823 - The role of flower visitors in the explosive pollination of Thalia geniculata (Marantaceae), a Costa Rican marsh plant (1987) M. A. Davis
Reslit 2824 - Inflorescence development in Thalia geniculata (Marantaceae) (1985) B. K. Kirchoff
Reslit 2825 - Differential nitrogen and phosphorus recovery by five aquatic garden species in laboratory-scale subsurface-constructed wetlands (2008) R. F. Polomski, D. G. Bielenberg, T. Whitwell, M. ...
Reslit 2826 - A red-petioled form of Thalia geniculata L. from central Florida (1975) A. G. Shuey
Reslit 2827 - Inflorescence structure and development in the Zingiberales: Thalia geniculata (Marantaceae) (1986) B. K. Kirchoff

This information was provided by the Florida WIldflower Foundation.
Search More Titles in Research Literature

Additional resources

USDA: Find Thalia geniculata in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Thalia geniculata in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Thalia geniculata

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-28
Research By: TWC Staff

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