Is kudzu the same as arrowroot?

No, kudzu [Pueraria lobata] isn't the same as arrowroot [Maranta arundinacea]. Kudzu is in the same family [Fabaceae] as beans and peas. Arrowroot is in the family of the obedience plants [Marantaceae]. Kudzu's benefits are countered by its aggressive competition for space, and consequently devastating impact on the environment. Arrowroot has no such reputation.