Arrowroot is a root starch extracted from the roots of Maranta arundinacea, native to South America. Other root starches are frequently named arrowroot also, even tapioca starch from cassava. The name for the Japanese kuzu starch, also from roots, is Japanese arrowroot.
Arrowroot refers to both a tropical plant (Maranta arundinacea) and the starch extracted from its rhizomes. The plant, a perennial herb, grows up to 1.5 meters tall and has fleshy, tuberous rhizomes. The starch is used as a food thickener and has various medicinal properties.