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(Last Modified On 10/29/2012)
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(Last Modified On 10/29/2012)
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Genus
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CANNA L.
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PlaceOfPublication
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Sp. P1. 1. 1753.
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Synonym
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Katubala Adans. Fam. 2:67. 1763. Cannacorus Tourn. ex Medic. in Acta Acad. Theod.-palat. 6: Phys. 378. 1790. Xyphostylis Raf. Fl. Tellur. 4:52. 1836. Distemon Bouche in Linnaea 18:494. 1844. Eurystylus Bouche, loc. cit. 485. 1844.
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Description
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Mediocre to fairly massive, leafy, rhizomatous herbs; leaves spiral, relatively large, with an eligulate sheath; inflorescence racemiform or paniculate, bracteate, the bracts usually subtending a cicinnus of 2 more or less showy, usually brightly colored perfect flowers; sepals 3, free, more or less foliaceous or petalaceous, es- sentially equal; petals 3, nearly equal, more or less connate at the base; fertile stamen 1, petaloid, bearing a solitary marginal anther, more or less connate at the base with the somewhat petaloid style, a petaloid anterior (labellum) and 2-3 showy posterior staminodia; ovary inferior, 3-celled, conspicuously warty or spiny-fimbriate, containing numerous ovules; fruit a rather large warty or spiny- fimbriate capsule finally opening by the collapse of the pericarp; seeds round and very hard.
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Note
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The taxonomy of the Cannas is about as troublesome as that of any of the Monocotyledons, not because of the original number of species probably, but because they have been cultivated and hybridized since the earliest years of Euro- pean colonization of America. Pressed specimens do not give a good idea of the habit of the plants, nor of the aspect and color of the flowers and foliage. Early systematic studies of the genus were undertaken, however painstakingly by such enthusiasts as Roscoe, under conditions of greenhouse and garden culture in Europe, and the numerous species proposed mostly upon single specimens of doubtful origin. Most herbaria contain far more specimens of garden hybrid Cannas than of undoubtedly indigenous plants accompanied by adequate data. Such genera are not attractive subjects for professional taxonomists, and as a result Canna has suffered from neglect as well as from misunderstanding. Such accounts as that of Krinzlin (in Engl. Pflanzenreich IV. 47. 1912) are obviously pieces of chore-work guided by little biological understanding of the problem, and by no real interest in it. Under such circumstances, preparation of an account of Canna for a Flora such as this is very difficult. Because of our interest in the Scitamineae of Panama generally, the editors have devoted considerable attention to the species of Canna, in the field, in the herbarium, and in the library. We also have had the oppor- tunity of examining numerous exsiccatae annotated by Kranzlin, which, however, have been of little actual use since they so frequently fail to coincide with our information from other sources. The following account, therefore, is virtually independent, and although the definition of the biological entities is probably as satisfactory as may be obtained at present, the nomenclature undoubtedly will bear scrutiny in the light of future monographic study. In Panama, Canna is not a particularly prominent element of the herbaceous flora since the plants do not grow in such conspicuous stands as do various Heliconias and Calatheas, for example. Their showy flowers, nevertheless, have earned them popular recognition as Plantanillo (generally applied to any plant at all resembling a Banana), and Cafe cimarroi or Cafe silvestre (because of their hard round seeds). The garden hybrids frequently encountered are known as Bandera espaiiola. The West Indians call the seeds "Indian shot", and they are occasionally used in boys' popguns. The leaves or roots are reported as used in some districts as domestic medicine for diuretics and emollient poultices. The large leaves, like those of Heliconias and Calatheas, are employed in the "interior" for wrapping small parcels.
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Key
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a. Flowers 4-10 cm. long, yellow, red, or variegated; plants with the true habit of a Canna, the inflorescence vertical. b. Staminodia 2; flowers yellow, usually spotted with orange or red, 5-6 cm. long; leaves broadly ovate to ovate-lanceolate, the base broadly obtuse or rounded, then abruptly decurrent to the petiole 1. C. LUTEA bb. Staminodia 3. c. Leaves lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, gradually and continuous- ly narrowed to the petiole, glaucous; flowers yellow. d. Flowers 8-9 cm. long; corolla tube about as long as the calyx, the lobes erect or strongly ascending; leaves narrowly lanceo- late --------------- ------------------- 2. C. GLAUCA dd. Flowers 9-10 cm. long; corolla tube greatly surpassing the calyx, the lobes reflexed; leaves elliptic-lanceolate -3. C. FLACCIDA cc. Leaves ovate to ovate-elliptic, obtuse or rounded to broadly acute at the base, then abruptly decurrent to the petiole, not glaucous or scarcely so; flowers red, occasionally flushed with yellow at the base. d. Flowers 4-5 cm. long, shortly pedicellate or subsessile; corolla lobes spreading --- _4. C. INDICA dd. Flowers 6-8 cm. long, the pedicels as long as the ovary or longer; corolla lobes nearly erect -5. C. EDULIS aa. Flowers 10-12 cm. long, white tinged with yellowish green at the tips; plants with the habit of a Heliconia, the inflorescence horizontal 6. C. LILIIFLORA
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