About Goeppertia insignis (W.Bull ex W.E.Marshall) J.M.A.Braga, L.J.T.Cardoso & R.Couto
Goeppertia insignis, commonly called the rattlesnake plant, has scientific synonyms Calathea lancifolia and Goeppertia lancifolia. It is a flowering plant species belonging to the Marantaceae family, native to the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This species is an evergreen perennial that grows 60 to 75 centimeters (24 to 30 inches) tall. It produces slender pale green leaves up to 45 centimeters (18 inches) long; leaf upper surfaces are heavily marked with dark blotches, while leaf undersides are purple. In the Peruvian Amazon, this plant is used to wrap brown sugar. For cultivation, Goeppertia insignis prefers indirect sunlight. It grows best in well-drained but consistently moist soil, with an ideal soil pH between 6.1 and 7.3. The species requires a minimum temperature of 16 °C (61 °F), and it is widely grown as a houseplant in temperate regions.
