1003

 Calathea crotalifera S.Watson

Habit: Terrestrial

Habitat: Large, erect herbaceous plant forms clumps up to 3 m height.

Height: 3 m.

Foliage:  Large, oval to egg-shaped leaves are held upright by long petioles which emerge from the ground. The topside is dark green, while the underside is greyish green with typically purplish margins.

Flowers: The inflorescence is composed of yellow boat-shaped bracts which are tightly stacked in 2 adjacent files that resemble the tail of a rattlesnake (up to 25 cm long). Thin, yellow tubular flowers occur at the tips of the bracts.