The Marantaceae are a family, the arrowroot family, or the prayer plant family, of flowering plants consisting of 28 genera and around 530 species, defining it as one of the most species-rich families in its order. Species of this family are found in lowland tropical forests of Africa, Asia, and the Americas. The majority (80%) of the species are found in the American tropics, followed by Asian (11%) and African (9%) tropics. They are commonly called the prayer-plant family and are also known for their unique secondary pollination presentation.
Scientists engineered yeast cells to produce thaumatin, an intensely sweet protein normally extracted from a West African fruit, using fermentation instead of farming. The process yields a pure, natural-tasting version that could offer a plant-based, low-calorie sugar alternative without relying on limited crop harvests.
