Viability of conventional agricultural practices is challenged by the ever-worsening climate crisis. It has created an urgent need to identify candidate crops that can remain stable under extreme environmental fluctuations. While mainstream attention focuses on a limited set of major fibre crops, a lot of underutilized species with significant potential remain largely overlooked by both the scientific community and industries. Sitalpati/Patdoi (Schumannianthus dichotomus), a wetland-adapted perennial from the Marantaceae family, is one such overlooked resources. Despite decades of cultural root in South and Southeast Asian societies, general awareness among people about the potential of this crop is still lacking. Beside its celebrated role in traditional handicraft industries, the species has exceptional ecological and biomedical potential. This paper integrates current scientific knowledge, identifies its manifold value and diverse applications, and positions S. dichotomus as a promising future target for scientific and industrial interest.
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