Goeppertia zebrina

Goeppertia zebrina
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Clade:	Commelinids
Order:	Zingiberales
Family:	Marantaceae
Genus:	Goeppertia
Species:	G. zebrina
Binomial name
Goeppertia zebrina (Sims) Nees
Synonyms [1]
Calathea binotii Gentil Calathea zebrina (Sims) Lindl. Endocodon zebrina (Sims) Raf. Goeppertia zebrina (Sims) Nees Maranta bicolor Vell. nom. illeg. Maranta pulchella Linden ex K.Koch Maranta zebrina Sims Phrynium bicolor K.Koch Phrynium pulchellum Linden ex K.Koch Phrynium zebrinum (Sims) Roscoe Phyllodes zebrina (Sims) Kuntze

Goeppertia zebrina, the zebra plant, is a species of plant in the family Marantaceae, native to southeastern Brazil. ^{[2] [3] [4]} It is sometimes known by the synonym Calathea zebrina. Goeppertia zebrina has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. ^{[5] [6]}

Etymology

The Latin specific epithet zebrina means "with stripes like a zebra". ^[7]

Description

It is an evergreen perennial growing to 1 m (3 ft 3 in). The long stalks to 30 cm (12 in) carry elliptical leaves 45 cm (18 in) or more long. The leaves are dark green above, dark red below, the spines, veins and margins etched in lime green.

Cultivation

It is tender, with a minimum temperature of 16 °C (61 °F) required, and in temperate areas is cultivated indoors as a houseplant. Normal room temperature, that is around 20°C, is suitable for this plant all year round. It prefers a brightly-lit spot, but does not tolerate direct sunlight. The soil should be kept moist throughout the summer, when it cannot tolerate drought. Nutrition can be given every other week during the growing season from spring to fall, but no supplement in the winter. To give the blades a pleasant humidity, it can be showered with tepid water as often as possible. Replanting takes place when needed during the spring. ^[8]

See also

• Maranta leuconeura, a similar looking houseplant of the same family

References

1. "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species".
2. Rafinesque, Constantine Samuel. 1838. Flora Telluriana 4: 49-50, Endocodon
3. John Lindley. Edwards's Bot. Reg. 14: sub t. 1210 (1829)
4. Sims, John. 1817. Botanical Magazine 44: t. 1926, Maranta zebrina
5. "Goeppertia zebrina". www.rhs.org. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
6. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 43. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
7. Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for Gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. ISBN   978-1845337315.
8. RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN   978-1405332965.