Overview
Goeppertia bachemiana (É.Morren) Borchs. & S.Suárez is an accepted species of the family Marantaceae, a perennial herb whose native range is recorded by Plants of the World Online as Brazil (Rio de Janeiro state) [2]. The GBIF Backbone Taxonomy accepts the species under key 8104410, consistent with the Plants of the World Online treatment [1].
The species is placed within Goeppertia Nees, which Plants of the World Online and the GBIF Backbone Taxonomy recognise as the largest genus in Marantaceae, encompassing an estimated 260 accepted species. The majority of those species were transferred from the formerly broad Calathea G.Mey. following the publication of a molecular phylogenetic revision by Borchsenius, Suárez and Prince in 2012, which demonstrated that Calathea as previously circumscribed was polyphyletic [3]. The registry records native_range as null for this species; Plants of the World Online states Brazil (Rio de Janeiro), and a reviewer should update that field accordingly [2].
The Flora do Brasil 2020, compiled by the Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, records this species in the Brazilian national checklist under identifier FB138571 [4]. The species is recorded as cultivated in the Digital Towns registry, consistent with the Plants of the World Online record [2].
Nomenclature and Synonymy
The accepted name Goeppertia bachemiana (É.Morren) Borchs. & S.Suárez is confirmed by the GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (key 8104410) and Plants of the World Online (LSID urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:60458927-2) [1][2]. The basionym is Calathea bachemiana É.Morren, published by Édouard Morren in Annales d'Horticulture et de Botanique (also cited as La Belgique Horticole) 25: 271 in 1875, with an accompanying figure [2].
Plants of the World Online records the following full synonymy for this species [2]:
- Calathea bachemiana É.Morren (1875) — the basionym
- Maranta bachemiana (É.Morren) Regel, published in Gartenflora 28: 297 (1879)
- Phyllodes bachemiana (É.Morren) Kuntze, published in Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 696 (1891)
- Maranta kegeliana Regel, published in Gartenflora 28: 297 (1879)
- Maranta regeliana Voss, published in Vilm. Blumengärtn., ed. 3, 1: 955 (1895)
The combination into Goeppertia was published by Finn Borchsenius, Lorena Suárez and Larry M. Prince in 2012 as part of their comprehensive molecular phylogenetic revision, in which they established 246 new combinations transferring species from the polyphyletic Calathea into Goeppertia Nees [3]. The name Calathea bachemiana remains in continued horticultural use in the trade; under current botanical nomenclature it is a synonym resolved to Goeppertia bachemiana [2].
The registry ipni_id field for this species is currently null. The LSID recorded by Plants of the World Online implies an IPNI identifier of 60458927-2; a reviewer should verify and populate that field [2].
The species epithet bachemiana commemorates a person named Bachem. No further documentation of the honoree has been located in approved source categories. Limited authoritative sources available; further research needed.
Description
Goeppertia bachemiana is described by Plants of the World Online as a perennial herb and is placed in the wet tropical biome [2]. The registry habitat field is currently null; Plants of the World Online states the wet tropical biome, and a reviewer should update that field accordingly [2].
No detailed morphological description of this species from a peer-reviewed source, botanical garden publication, or university extension service has been located in approved source categories beyond the family-level habit of a perennial herb. Limited authoritative sources available; further research needed.
Distribution
Plants of the World Online states that the native range of Goeppertia bachemiana is Brazil (Rio de Janeiro state), and that the species grows primarily in the wet tropical biome [2]. The Flora do Brasil 2020, published by the Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, records the species within the Brazilian national checklist under identifier FB138571, consistent with the POWO native-range statement [4].
No information on the conservation status of this species under IUCN criteria or under Brazilian national red-list criteria has been located in approved source categories. Limited authoritative sources available; further research needed.
In Cultivation
Plants of the World Online records Goeppertia bachemiana as cultivated, consistent with the registry field in_cultivation: true [2]. The GBIF Backbone Taxonomy records occurrence data for the species under key 8104410 [1]. The trade continues to list this plant under the synonym Calathea bachemiana, a name that predates the 2012 revision and remains in wide horticultural use; that name is a synonym under current botanical nomenclature.
No International Cultivar Registration Authority has been appointed for Marantaceae. The International Society for Horticultural Science maintains the list of appointed ICRAs; as of August 2026, Marantaceae is absent from that list, meaning there is no body mandated to formally register cultivar names in this family, including cultivar names within Goeppertia. The International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP) requires that a cultivar epithet be enclosed in single quotation marks [3].
Digital Towns is an applicant and an aggregator; it is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or accredited by the ISHS or any appointed ICRA.
Cultivars
One cultivar is recorded in the Digital Towns registry for Goeppertia bachemiana: the epithet 'Silver Plate'. The ICNCP requires cultivar epithets to be enclosed in single quotation marks; accordingly the cultivar is written 'Silver Plate' [3].
No originator is documented — this cultivar predates any registration authority for Marantaceae. No patent number is recorded in the registry for 'Silver Plate', and no plant patent record for this cultivar has been located. No description of 'Silver Plate' and its distinguishing characters from a botanical garden publication, university extension service, or peer-reviewed source has been located in approved source categories. Limited authoritative sources available; further research needed on the cultivar's characteristics and history.