Arrowroot

An herbaceous, tropical perennial plant with a creeping rhizome indigenous to the tropical Americas. The plant has fleshy cylindrical tubers, from which the final product is derived. Arrowroot grows for 6 - 12 months before harvest. The starch is extracted from the rhizomes not older than a year. The starch can be used as a thickener for sauces and gravies. It is also used for making clear glazes for fruit pies. In South America, the starch is used by the natives as babypowder, being a very light weight white powder that when applied to the skin, gives a soft, silky smooth feel.