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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 may be 3 ft. tall. The entire plant grows 6-10 ft. in height. Tall perennial herb with long basal leaves and pairs of small flowers in open panicles.
The light green foliage on their stalks gives these conspicuous plants the name “flags.” They are related to the banana and the canna.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Blue , PurpleBloom Time: May , Jun , Jul
Distribution
USA: AL , FL , LANative Distribution: FL to the West Indies
Native Habitat: Stream & pond margins; wet ditches
Growing Conditions
Light Requirement: Part ShadeAquatic: yes
Soil Description: Shallow water or poorly drained, wet soils.
Conditions Comments: Not Available
Propagation
Description: Not AvailableSeed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: Not Available
Commercially Avail: yes
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | OBL | OBL | OBL |
Research Literature
Reslit 661 - Response of selected nontarget native Florida wetland plant species to metsulfuron methyl (2008) J. T. Hutchinson and K. A. LangelandReslit 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.
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Additional resources
USDA: Find Thalia geniculata in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Thalia geniculata in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Thalia geniculata
Metadata
Record Modified: 2015-05-12Research By: TWC Staff