Canna discolor

• Interesting Facts
• Common Names
• Description
• Taxonomy
• Similar Species
• More Info
• Further Reading
• Notes

Interesting Facts

Common Names

Description

Family Cannaceae

Herbs perennial . Stems erect , robust . Rhizomes tuberous . Leaves alternate, spirally arranged , large, veins pinnate and parallel, base sheathing . Inflorescence a terminal raceme or panicle of showy, 1- or 2-flowered cincinni. Flowers bisexual , asymmetric , mostly large. Sepals 3, green, free , persistent . Corolla lobes 3, green or colored , basally connate into a tube and adnate to staminodes. Staminodes and stamen in 2 whorls: outer whorl with (2 or) 3 conspicuous , petaloid staminodes, usually red or yellow; inner whorl with a reflexed staminode (labellum), narrower than outer staminodes, and a fertile stamen; filament petaloid; anther 1-loculed, adnate to apical margin of filament. Ovary inferior, 3-loculed; ovules numerous per locule; placentation axile . Style petaloid. Fruit a capsule, 3-valved, usually warty. Seeds many, globose ; endosperm copious ; embryo straight.

One genus and ten to twenty species: tropical and subtropical America; one species (introduced ) in China.[1]

Genus Canna

Herbs, rhizomatous , 1--2[--5] m , forming small to large monotypic stands. Leaves green [bronze or magenta in hybrids and cultivars], often glaucous [lanuginose]; blade narrowly ovate to narrowly elliptic , 20--70 cm ´ 15--30 cm, base gradually or abruptly tapered, apex acute to acuminate. Inflorescences: peduncles green [magenta], often glaucous; bracts green [magenta], often glaucous; primary bracts to 30 cm, secondary bracts to 20 cm; floral bracts 0.5--3 ´ 0.3--1.5 cm, papery . Flowers nearly sessile, subtended by pedicel bract; sepals usually green [magenta], often less than half size of petals; petals sharply reflexed or not, green or brightly colored , 4--15 cm, generally shorter than staminodes; staminodes pale yellow to deep crimson red; labellum 3--9 ´ 4--10 cm; ovary green [magenta]. Capsules brown, 1.5--6 ´ 2--4.5 cm, warty, becoming papery. Seeds 5--25[--75] per capsule, medium to dark brown or black, 4--10 ´ 4--8 mm.

Species 10: tropical and subtropical Americas with some species naturalized and many cultivated hybrids.

Until recently taxonomists recognized more than 50 species in Canna, but that number has now been reduced to ten (P. J. M. Maas 1985; P. J. M. Maas and H. Maas 1988) based mainly on new concepts of biogeographical history, the extent of hybridization during cultivation, and the plasticity of morphological features, especially in the highly polymorphic species C. indica.

Little has been published regarding pollination of these plants . The two North American species with pale yellow flowers, Canna glauca and C. flaccida, flower at dusk and may be pollinated by hawkmoths. Several neotropical species with bright red or orange flowers are hummingbird-pollinated. Nectar, which accumulates at the base of the floral tube , is the apparent reward in all cases. Pollen is shed from the bisporangiate anther onto the adjacent style before the flower opens (secondary pollen presentation), which usually results in self-pollination ; thus, greenhouse-grown plants readily set seed. The large seed size and lack of reward for potential animal dispersal agents suggests that seeds are dispersed by gravity and water. Seeds can germinate and produce reproductive shoots in a single growing season .

Both Canna flaccida and C. glauca, as well as several Central American species, are hosts to the larva of the skipper butterfly Calpodes ethlius (Cramer), ), which builds protective tents by folding or rolling the apices of the leaves.

The most common use of Canna by Europeans and North Americans is as ornamentals . Both the hybrids and some species are grown for their striking foliage and large, delicate flowers. Two hybrids commonly grown in both temperate and tropical zones are C. ×generalis L. H. Bailey and C. ×orchioides L. H. Bailey. The former is apparently a cross between C. indica and C. glauca, or C. iridiflora Ruiz & and Pavóon and the latter between C. ×generalis and C. flaccida (L. H. Bailey 1924; J. W. Donahue 1965) . These hybrids are usually sterile , although they may persist in cultivation.

The seeds of Canna indica are used as beads (especially for rosaries) and in gourds to form rattles . The rhizomes are used to make a form of arrowroot. The vegetation and rhizomes have been used as medicinals for both humans and domesticated animals.[2]

Physical Description

Taxonomy

Notes

Publishing author : Lindl. Publication : Bot. Reg. t. 1231

Similar Species

Members of the genus Canna

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 570 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus. Here are just 100 of them:

C. altensteinii (Canna) · C. americanallis var. Variegata f. ruminoides (Variegated Canna) · C. aurantiaca (Canna Lily Canna Aurantiaca) · C. bangii (Canna Lily Canna Bangii) · C. brasiliensis (Canna Lily Canna Brasiliensis) · C. compacta (Canna Lily Canna Compacta) · C. discolor (Canna Lily Canna Discolor) · C. esculenta (Canna Lily Canna Esculenta) · C. flaccida (Bandana of the Everglades) · C. generalis (Canna Lily) · C. glauca (Louisiana Canna) · C. glauca 'Endeavour' (Endeavour Aquatic Canna Lily Canna Glauca) · C. glauca 'Erebus' (Erebus Aquatic Canna Lily Canna Glauca) · C. glauca 'Fuchsia Fantasy' (Fuchsia Fantasy Canna Lily) · C. glauca 'Longwood Hybrid' (Longwood Canna) · C. glauca 'Panache' (Panache Aquatic Canna Lily Canna Glauca) · C. glauca 'Ra' (Ra Aquatic Canna Lily Canna Glauca) · C. glauca 'Taney' (Taney Aquatic Canna Lily Canna Glauca) · C. indica (Canna) · C. indica var. maculata (Canna Lily) · C. indica 'Alberich' (Alberich Indian Shot Canna Indica) · C. indica 'Anchiras' (Anchiras Tous Les Mois Canna Indica) · C. indica 'Belize' (Belize Canna Lily) · C. indica 'Crozy's New Hybrids' (Crozy's New Hybrids Canna Lily) · C. indica 'Mactro' (Tropicanna® Gold Canna) · C. indica 'Musafolia' (Musafolia Banana Canna Canna Indica) · C. indica 'Phasion' (Tropicanna® Canna) · C. indica 'Purpurea' (Edible Canna) · C. indica 'Red Stripe' (Canna Lily) · C. indica 'Rosea' (Rosea Canna Lily) · C. iridiflora (Canna Lily Canna Iridiflora) · C. jacobiniflora (Canna) · C. lambertii (Lambert's Canna) · C. lanuginosa (Canna Lily Canna Lanuginosa) · C. liliiflora (Canna Lily Canna Liliiflora) · C. lumbautum (Canna Lily) · C. lutea (Yellow Canna) · C. 'Musifolia' (Banana Canna Canna Musifolia) · C. 'Musifolia Grande' (Grande Banana Canna Canna Musifolia) · C. neglecta (Broadleaf Canna) · C. orchiodes (Orchid Canna) · C. orchioides (Orchid Canna Canna Orchioides) · C. orientalis (Canna Lily Canna Orientalis) · C. paniculata (Canna Lily Canna Paniculata) · C. patens (Canna Lily Canna Patens) · C. pertusa (Canna) · C. speciosa (Canna Lily Canna Speciosa) · C. sylvestris (Canna) · C. tuerckheimii (Canna Lily Canna Tuerckheimii) · C. var. Oiseau De Feu (Firebird Canna) · C. warszewiczii (Canna Lily Canna Warszewiczii) · C. x (Canna Lily) · C. x ehemanii (Canna Lily Canna X Ehemanii) · C. × generalis (Tropicanna Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Adam's Orange' (Adam's Orange Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'African Scarlet Speckle' (African Scarlet Speckle Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Afterglow' (Afterglow Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Aida' (Aida Canna Lily) · C. x generalis'Aires' (Aires Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Alaska' (Alaska Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Alfred Cole' (Alfred Cole Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Allegheny' (Allegheny Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Alyse' (Alyse Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Amazing Grace' (Amazing Grace Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Amazon Butterfly' (Amazon Butterfly Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Ambassador' (Ambassador Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Ambassadour' (Ambassadour Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Ambrosia' (Ambrosia Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'America' (America Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Angele Martin' (Angele Martin Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Angel Pink' (Angel Pink Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Annaei' (Annaei Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Anthony De Crozy' (Anthony De Crozy Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Apache Blaze' (Apache Blaze Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Aphrodite' (Aphrodite Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Apricot Dream' (Apricot Dream Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Apricot Frost' (Apricot Frost Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Apricot Ice' (Apricot Ice Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Aquarius' (Aquarius Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Aranalyom' (Aranalyom Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Arctic' (Arctic Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Argentia' (Argentia Canna Lily) · C. x generalis'Aristote' (Aristote Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Assaut' (Assaut Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Australia' (Australia Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Autumn Dragon' (Autumn Dragon Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Aztec' (Aztec Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Bangkok Yellow' (Bangkok Yellow Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Beloved' (Beloved Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Bengal Tiger' (Bengal Tiger Canna) · C. x generalis 'Bill Johnson' (Bill Johnson Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Bittersweet' (Bittersweet Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Black Knight' (Black Knight Canna) · C. x generalis 'Black Magic' (Black Magic Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Black Velvet' (Black Velvet Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Blushing Beauty' (Blushing Beauty Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Boca Blue' (Boca Blue Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Bonfire' (Bonfire Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Bonnezeaux' (Bonnezeaux Canna Lily) · C. x generalis 'Borneo' (Canna)

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Further Reading

• A manual of botany, including the structure, classification, properties, uses, and functions of plants. London, J & A. Churchill, 1887. url p. 695.
• A manual of gardening for Bengal and Upper India. By Thomas A. C. Firminger. .. Calcutta, Thacker, Spink and co.; [etc., etc.]1874. url p. 359.
• Bulletin / Smithsonian Institution, Bureau of American Ethnology. Washington: G.P.O., 1901-1971. url p. 512.
• Carnegie Institution of Washington publication. Washington, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 1902- url p. 227.
• Edwards's botanical register. London: James Ridgway, 1829-1847. url , , , , , , , , , , , , p. 1231.
• Flora of Costa Rica. .. by Paul C. Standley. .. 18 1937 Chicago, 1937. url p. 191.
• Flora of Guatemala / Paul C. Standley and Julian A. Steyermark. 24 1952 Chicago: Chicago Natural History Museum, 1952. url p. 203.
• Flora of the British West Indian islands. London, L. Reeve, 1864. url .
• Genesee farmer. Rochester, N.Y.: B.F. Smith & Co., [1845-1865] url p. 26.
• Greenhouse & stove plants; flowering and fine-leaved, palms, ferns, and lycopodiums, with full details of the propagation and cultivation of 500 families of plants, embracing all the best kinds in cultivation, suitable for grow London, J. Murray, 1885. url p. 93.
• Greenhouse and stove plants, flowering and fine-leaved, palms, ferns, and lycopodiums, with full details of the propagation and cultivation of 500 families of plants: embracing all the best kinds in cultivation, suitable for growing in the greenhouse, intermediate house, and stove / by Thomas Baines. London: J. Murray, 1894. url p. 93.
• Medicinal plants. Being descriptions with original figures of the principal plants employed in medicine and an account of the characters, properties, and uses of their parts and products of medicinal value. By Robert Bentley and Henry Trimen. Plates by David Blair. In four volumes. London, J. & A. Churchill, 1880. url .
• Nicholson, G. The illustrated dictionary of gardening: a practical and scientific encyclopædia of horticulture for gardeners and botanists /edited by George Nicholson; assisted by J.W.H. Trail. .. and J. Garrett. .. 9 1884 London: L.U. Gill, [1884]-88. url p. 429, p. 441.
• Phytologia memoirs. Plainfield, N.J.: H.N. Moldenke and A.L. Moldenke, 1980- url p. 97.
• Practical floriculture, a guide to the successful cultivation of florists' plants, for the amateur and professional florist. New York, Judd[1869] url p. 211.
• Practical floriculture; a guide to the successful cultivation of florists' plants, for the amateur and professional florist. New York, O. Judd company, 1883. url p. 244, p. 244.
• Quarterly journal of microscopical science. London, J. and A. Churchill [etc.] url .
• The Floral world and garden guide. London, Groombridge and Sons, 1858-1880. url p. 89.
• The Florists' exchange: a weekly medium of interchange for florists, nurserymen, seedsmen and the trade in general. New York, N.Y.: [A.T. De la Mare Ptg. and Pub. Co., url p. 620.
• The Garden: an illustrated weekly journal of gardening in all its branches. London: [s.n., url p. 30.
• The Gardener's magazine and register of rural & domestic improvement. London: Longman, Rees, Orome, Brown and Green, 1826-1844. url p. 302, p. 635.
• The Gardener's monthly and horticulturist. Philadelphia, Pa.: Charles H. Marot, 1876-1888. url , p. 66, p. 76.
• The Gardeners' chronicle and agricultural gazette. 1854 London: published for the proprietors, 1844-1873. url p. 455.
• The Gardeners' chronicle: a weekly illustrated journal of horticulture and allied subjects. London: [Gardeners Chronicle], 1874-1955. url p. 231, p. 235, p. 367.
• The Horticulturist and journal of rural art and rural taste. Albany, N.Y.: Luthur Tucker, 1846/1847-1875 url p. 242.
• The Illustrated dictionary of gardening: a practical and scientific encyclopaedia of horticulture for gardeners and botanists / edited by George Nicholson. ..; assisted by J.W.H. Trail. .. and J. Garrett. ... London: L. Upcott Gill; 1887-1889. url p. 262, p. 373, p. 386, p. 429, p. 441.
• The Journal of horticulture, cottage gardener and country gentlemen. London: George W. Johnson and Robert Hogg, 1861-1877. url , , p. 124, p. 125, p. 126, p. 142, p. 168, p. 214, p. 238, p. 238, p. 8.
• The differentiation and specificity of starches in relation to genera, species, etc.; stereochemistry applied to protoplasmic processes and products, and as a strictly scientific basis for the classification of plants and animals Washington, D.C.Carnegie institution of Washington1913 url p. 227.
• The garden... London, 1872- url p. 30.
• The gardener's magazine and register of rural & domestic improvement. London: Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown and Green, 1826-1844. url p. 302.
• The subtropical garden, or, Beauty of form in the flower garden / by W. Robinson London: J. Murray, 1879 url p. 89.
• The subtropical garden: or, Beauty of form in the flower garden / by W. Robinson. London: J. Murray, 1891. url p. 89.
• Vernacular list of trees, shrubs, and woody climbers in the Madras Presidency. Madras, Printed by the Superintendant, Government Press, 1915. url p. 367, p. 599, p. 651, p. 846, p. 903.
• Wu Te-lin & Chen Sen-jen. 1981. Cannaceae. In: Wu Te-lin, ed., Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 16(2): 152--158.
• Bailey, L.. H. 1924. Manual of Cultivated Plants.
• Donahue, J. W. 1965. History, breeding and cultivation of the canna. Amer. Hort. Mag. 44: 84--91.
• Gade, D. W. 1966. Achira, the edible canna, its cultivation and use in the Peruvian Andes. Econ. Bot. 20: 407--415.
• Segeren, W. and P. J. M. Maas. 1971. The genus Canna in northern South America. Acta Bot. Neerl. 20: 663--680.
• Tomlinson, P. B. 1961. The anatomy of Canna. J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 56: 467--473.
• Young, A. M. 1982. Notes on the interaction of the skipper butterfly Calpodes ethlius (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) with its larval host plant Canna edulis (Cannaceae) in Mazatlan, State of Sinaloa, Mexico. J. New York Entomol. Soc. 90(2): 99--114.

Notes

Contributors

• Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-present. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Zwaag, The Netherlands. Accessed January 10, 2012.

Identifiers

• Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 9139415
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 15326223
• Globally Unique Identifier: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:795996-1
• International Plant Names Index (IPNI) ID: 795996-1
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 724460

Footnotes

1. Delin Wu & W. John Kress "Cannaceae". in Flora of China Vol. 24 Page 378. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
2. "Canna". in Flora of North America Vol. 22. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]

©2004-2012 David Stang. All rights reserved.