Calathea lutea (Aubl.) Schult.

Plants very stout, 1-5 m. tall, caulescent; leaves long-petiolate, broadly elliptic to suborbicular, obtuse or abrupt-ly acuminate, the base obtuse or rounded then very abruptly and shortly decurrent, 20-150 cm. long, 15-60 cm. broad, glabrous, conspicuously prui-nose, particularly the lower suf-face; callus 5-12 cm. long; inflorescence terminating the leafy stem, consisting of 2-several pedunculate, flattened, oblong, ellipsoid spikes 15-40 cm. long, 3-5 cm. broad; bracts 2-ranked, more or less conduplicate, nearly orbicular, 3.5-4.5 cm. long and broad, sharply ascending and nearly parallel to the rachis, heavily coriaceous, yellowish brown usually flushed with red or purple, glabrous to rather conspicuously appressed-tomentose; flowers white or very pale yellow, occasionally purplish, 4.0-4.5 cm. long, well exserted from the bracts.

Principally in coastal marshes and disturbed areas along the coast. Almost never in the forest except in tree-fall areas; occasional on creek beds and shoreline soil deposits.

The young leaves are used as a spice. The older leaves are used to wrap food and add flavour.

It can be grown from seeds or pieces of the rhizomes. It can also be grown by division of the clump.