Calathea – Calathea picturata Crimson

Calatheas are part of the ‘prayer plant’ family, Marantaceae. The ‘prayer plant’ nickname stems from the daily movements of the plants leaves, known as nyctinasty. Various plants in this family move their leaves up at nighttime, and lower them in the daytime in accordance to a circadian rhythm. They move their leaves by changing the water pressure in their pulvini, the swollen nodes at the base of the leaf, along the leaf stalk (petiole). It is believed that these movements are meant to follow the sun?s movement in the sky in order to maximize light absorption

Pot: 14cm

Height: Approximately 35cm from base of pot.