Identification Help: house plant id needed

[msmenefee]

Recently I sent a plant to my grandfather while he was in the hospital -- apparently it was so perfect that my grandparents thought at first it might be silk! We have no idea what it might be, and the gift shop does not keep that as a record. It has round leaves that are dark green with lighter green on the outside. The underside of the leaves are purple. When the leaves first come out, before they unroll, they are a perfect cylinder, then move into more of a trumpet shape. My grandmother said when she puts it on the kitchen table (directly under the light) that the leaves stand straight up and show the purple undersides. When she moves it, the leaves go back down and show the green tops sides. She said there is a flower in the middle of the plant, did not say what color it was. Any ideas?

[Ron B]

Maranta or Calathea.

[msmenefee]

Thanks, that helps us narrow it down. I will try to get a chance to give them a visit this week and narrow down the specifics, but that gives them something to start with as far as care goes. When I did a search for the names you mentioned, two of the common names I got were "prayer plant" and "peacock plant" -- which joggled my memory and I remember the lady at the gift shop saying she thought she had a prayer plant -- and when I talked to my grandparents again, my grandfather mentioned he thought it looked like a peacock. So, obviously we are getting warmer! Thanks!