Back

Canna indica L. (Edible Canna)

Family Name:	Cannaceae
Synonyms:	Canna edulis
Common Name:	Tous les Mois, Queensland Arrowroot, Achira, Indian Shot, 食用美人蕉

Full Sun

Lots of Water

Fruit or Vegetable

Herb or Spice

Ornamental Flowers

Ornamental Leaves

Aquatic

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Infraspecific Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Aquatic & Hydrophyte (Waterside / Marginal)
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Maximum Height	1.2 m to 3 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Central America, South America
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Disturbed Area / Open Ground)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Description and Ethnobotany

Others - Plant Morphology	Herbaceous shrub, up to 3m tall when grown in ground. Stems purplish-green, succulent, arising from thick underground potato-llke rhizomes.Leaves dark green, oblong, 40 - 70cm long. Flowers bright red above, yellow with red spots at base, produced in simple or branched spike inflorescences. "Petals" are actually petaloid false-stamens (staminodia). Fruits are globose explosive capsules covered by soft spines. Seeds black, with hard testa (seed coat).Suitable for flowerbeds and borders. Withstands wet soils. Propagate by clump division, rhizomes or seeds. Seeds should be scarified and soaked in water before sowing, germinate in 3 - 9 weeks.Genus epithet 'Canna' derived from Greek term for a type of reed. Species epithet 'edulis' means 'edible', referring to the starchy rhizomes.
Ethnobotanical Uses	Edible Plant Parts : Edible Roots Food (Fruit or Vegetable): Young root is eaten cooked. (Herb or Spice) Others: Rhizomes are source of 'Canna Starch', edible (with sweetish flavour) when boiled or baked. Can be ground into flour to make cakes. Known as Queensland Arrowroot, because Australia used to import large quantities of rhizomes for starch production. Immature seeds used in tortillas. Decoction of roots and fermented rice used to treat gonorrhoea and amenorrhoea. Purple dye obtained from seeds. Leaf fibres can be used to make a light brown paper. Smoke from burning leaves said to be insecticidal.

Others - Plant Morphology

Herbaceous shrub, up to 3m tall when grown in ground. Stems purplish-green, succulent, arising from thick underground potato-llke rhizomes.Leaves dark green, oblong, 40 - 70cm long. Flowers bright red above, yellow with red spots at base, produced in simple or branched spike inflorescences. "Petals" are actually petaloid false-stamens (staminodia). Fruits are globose explosive capsules covered by soft spines. Seeds black, with hard testa (seed coat).Suitable for flowerbeds and borders. Withstands wet soils. Propagate by clump division, rhizomes or seeds. Seeds should be scarified and soaked in water before sowing, germinate in 3 - 9 weeks.Genus epithet 'Canna' derived from Greek term for a type of reed. Species epithet 'edulis' means 'edible', referring to the starchy rhizomes.

Ethnobotanical Uses

Edible Plant Parts : Edible Roots
Food (Fruit or Vegetable): Young root is eaten cooked. (Herb or Spice)
Others: Rhizomes are source of 'Canna Starch', edible (with sweetish flavour) when boiled or baked. Can be ground into flour to make cakes. Known as Queensland Arrowroot, because Australia used to import large quantities of rhizomes for starch production. Immature seeds used in tortillas. Decoction of roots and fermented rice used to treat gonorrhoea and amenorrhoea. Purple dye obtained from seeds. Leaf fibres can be used to make a light brown paper. Smoke from burning leaves said to be insecticidal.

Landscaping Features

Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage
Landscape Uses	General, Flowerbed / Border, Swimming Poolside, Container Planting
Thematic Landscaping	Water Garden, Economic Garden

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Lots of Water
Rootzone Tolerance	Well-Drained Soils

Propagation Method

Seed

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Smooth, Thick

Young Flush Texture(s)	Rough
Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Margin	Entire

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower Colour(s)	Red
Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location	Terminal

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID	20675
Species ID	3352
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.