Canna indica L.

Spice Detail Flower Fruit

Family: CANNACEAE

Genus: Canna

Spanish common name: Achira. Caña coro. Cañas de indias. Lengua de dragón. Platanillo de cuba.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Neotropical

Uses and properties: Edible or foodstuffs. Medicinal. Symbolic uses.

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Habitats: Garden plants. Gardens.

Characteristics: A perennial and rhizomatous herbaceous plant with erect stems (to 3 m.). Large leaves are alternate, simple margin and a prominent central nerve that hugs the stem. Flowers are very showy, asymmetric and large, arranged at the end of the stem and can be reddish, pink, orange or yellow in colour. The fruit is a warty capsule with many seeds.

Observations: This species exhibits a great degree of polymorphism as a result of the copious amount of ornamental varieties that have been with us from antiquity.