Plant
Goeppertia loeseneri
Goeppertia loeseneriAlso known as Brazilian Star Calathea, Star Calathea
Brazilian star calathea flourishes across the humid, dappled understories of South American tropical rainforests. Its striking star-shaped inflorescences display delicate pale pink bracts that cradle white blossoms above broad, paddle-like foliage. Like other prayer plants in its family, the leaves fold upward in the evening via specialized swollen joints called pulvini, conserving moisture and tracking shifting forest light.
TropicalUnderstoryFlowering
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyAutotrophic (photosynthesis)
Predators
- Caterpillars
- Spider Mites
- Snails and Slugs
ThreatsDeforestation, agricultural expansion, and habitat fragmentation
HabitatsHumid tropical rainforest understory and shaded river banks
Life spanPerennial (indefinite via rhizomes)
Classification
- OrderZingiberales
- FamilyMarantaceae
- GenusGoeppertia
- SpeciesGoeppertia loeseneri
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Lighting: Provide moderate, indirect light to mirror its natural jungle canopy habitat.
- Moisture: Maintain high humidity and consistently moist, well-draining soil to prevent leaf browning.
Image unavailablePollinator 
Close Relative Chhe (talk) / Public domain · cc0
Close Relative (c) Diogo Luiz, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Same Family João Medeiros / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
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