calathea

American  

[kal-uh-thee-uh] / ˌkæl əˈθi ə /

noun

1. any of various tropical American plants of the genus Calathea, some of which have colorful, variegated leaves and are often cultivated as houseplants.

---

calathea British  

/ ˌkæləˈθɪə /

noun

1. any plant of the S. American perennial genus Calathea, many species of which are grown as greenhouse or house plants for their decorative variegated leaves, esp the zebra plant ( C. zebrina ), the leaves of which are purplish below and dark green with lighter stripes above: family Marantaceae

---

Etymology

Origin of calathea

From New Latin; see origin at kalathos, -ea

Example Sentences

On the landing, he shows me a calathea orbifolia plant.

From New York Times • Feb. 22, 2022

She added plants to the menu and began selling greenery alongside her staples: Senecio with sushi, prayer plants with pumpkin mochi cookies, calathea with her famous mint lemonade.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2022

More than 10 times what the original calathea cost me.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 14, 2021

But when I got the bug-trafficking calathea, the soil was very damp.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 14, 2021

While usually listed as Maranta zebrina, it is really a calathea and the plants of this genus show a variation in their markings unsurpassed by any.

From Gardening Indoors and Under Glass A Practical Guide to the Planting, Care and Propagation of House Plants, and to the Construction and Management of Hotbed, Coldframe and Small Greenhouse by Rockwell, F. F. (Frederick Frye)