Forest & Kim Starr · CC BY 3.0
About
Calathea is a popular genus of tropical plants, known for its large, colorful, and often variegated foliage. A distinctive trait is its nyctinastic behavior, where the leaves fold up at night and unfurl in the morning.
Field notes
Morphology
The leaves are often large and colorfully patterned, frequently variegated with bright colors such as pink, orange, red, and white, while the undersides are often purple. The plant exhibits nyctinasty, folding the leaves at night and unfurling them in the morning. Flowers can be yellow, purple, and white, and the bracts are often more attractive than the flowers.
Distribution & habitat
Native to parts of tropical Latin America, the genus has also been introduced to Hawaii.
Ecology
The young leaves and bracts can retain pools of water called phytotelmata, which provide habitat for many invertebrates. The foliage is also important to some herbivores, such as the caterpillars of the purple owl (*Caligo beltrao*) which feed on *C. zebrina*.
Cultivation notes
The species prefers low to medium light, avoiding direct sunlight. It requires high humidity and an acidic, porous, and well-draining soil. Ideal temperatures range from 75 °F to 85 °F, and the plant should be kept moist but not wet.
Conservation
Due to habitat destruction, several species are threatened with extinction.
Habitat
- Altitude
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- Altitude Class
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Cultivation
- Difficulty
- intermediate
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