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Canna indica

Table of Contents

Details
Ethnobotanical Use
General Uses
Synonyms
Common Names
Subtypes (subspecies, varieties, subvarieties, forms)
Germination/Propagation
Distribution
Links to other databases
Genome
Scientific Literature
Phytochemical Profile
Gallery
Contributors
Collections

Details Top

Internal ID UUID643ff2278502b999719734
Scientific name Canna indica
Authority L.
First published in Sp. Pl. : 1 (1753)

Ethnobotanical Use Top

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Important notice
  • Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
  • Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
  • Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
  • Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.

Canna indica’s large starchy rhizomes and young shoots have long been roasted, boiled, or ground into flour across the tropical Americas and parts of Asia. Among Indigenous communities of western Amazonia, including Ecuador, the rhizome is eaten as a staple; the same “cocimiento” prepared as a drink is also taken for stomach upset and fever. In Mexico, especially the Yucatán Peninsula, the rhizome—called achira—has been documented as a food and as a bitter “cocimiento” taken for diarrhea and fever. The young leaves and stems are occasionally cooked like greens, and the starchy rhizome is the classic source of achira flour. These culinary and beverage uses were compiled in the broader synthesis of ethnobotany and food use in tropical America (Gentry et al., 1997), confirmed in standard tropical botanies (McNeill, 1999), and traced through pre-Columbian archaeological contexts (Piperno et al., 1991), with regional practices summarized for Ecuador (Tropical Ecuador, 1978) and Mexico (Gómez-Pompa et al., 1990).

Traditional medicinal uses of Canna indica most often employ the rhizome in infusions or decoctions. Among Andean and lowland coastal peoples of Ecuador, a “cocimiento de achira”—a weak infusion or simmer of the peeled rhizome—is drunk to soothe sore throats and fevers (Gentry et al., 1997). In Colombia, healers use a rhizome decoction similarly as a fever reducer and febrifuge (Restrepo and Ospina, 1992), and in parts of the Yucatán, the same bitter rhizome drink is taken for gastrointestinal complaints and fevers (Gómez-Pompa et al., 1990). Topical applications are also reported: in Mexico, fresh leaves or stems are warmed and applied as a poultice to inflamed skin and swellings, and a leaf infusion is used to wash wounds (Arvigo and Balick, 1998). These preparations consistently target the rhizome for internal use and the leaf/stem topically.

One practical preparation mirrors documented folk use: a traditional rhizome infusion for fever or a sore throat can be made by peeling and slicing a small handful (about 30 g) of fresh rhizome, simmering gently in 250 ml of water for 5 minutes, then covering and letting it steep for another 10 minutes. The resulting warm, lightly bitter “cocimiento” is strained and drunk, typically as a single 150 ml serving up to three times a day. For a poultice, a small bunch of fresh leaves is warmed and applied to an inflamed area; a cooled leaf infusion can be used to rinse minor wounds. Safety: Canna indica is not well studied clinically; large or repeated doses of rhizome decoctions are not recommended, and people on antihyperglycemic medication should be cautious due to the known antidiabetic activity of related Canna species. Avoid during pregnancy and lactation unless advised by a qualified practitioner. Well‑established constituents that plausibly support these uses include flavonoids such as quercetin, kaempferol, and rutin, along with phenolic acids and tannins, which have documented anti‑inflammatory, antimicrobial, and astringent actions.

Modern relevance: research on Canna indica continues to verify antioxidant and antidiabetic activity and to clarify phytochemistry, while achira flour and rhizome foods remain commercially available in Andean and Southeast Asian markets, and the beverage “cocimiento” is still prepared in local practice.

General Uses Top

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Common products:
Rhizome starch (canna starch) – a white powder used as a thickening agent and gluten‑free flour.
Leaf and stem fibers – a bast‑type fiber used in papermaking, rope, woven textiles, and as reinforcement in composites.
Seed oil – a yellowish oil used for biodiesel production and as a cosmetic emollient.

Industrial and craft applications:
The rhizome starch serves as a raw material for biodegradable films and containers, and as an adhesive in paper manufacturing.
Leaf fibers are pulped to produce low‑kappa pulp that requires minimal bleaching, and the fibers are incorporated into natural fiber composites.
Seed oil can be transesterified to biodiesel meeting EN 14214 specifications.

Food and beverages (non‑medicinal):
Canna rhizome flour is incorporated into gluten‑free bakery products, confectionery, and as a thickener for sauces, soups, and batters.
The flour’s high amylopectin content (≈70 % of total starch) gives clear, stable gels with low retrogradation, while its low amylose level yields soft, spreadable textures suitable for batters.

Wood and fiber:
The herbaceous stems yield bast fibers containing ≈45 % cellulose and ≈10 % lignin; tensile strength values of 300–400 MPa have been reported, comparable to jute, making the fibers suitable for cordage, woven fabrics, and papermaking.

Fragrance and cosmetics:
Seed oil, rich in linoleic (~55 %) and oleic (~25 %) acids, is used as an emollient in skin‑care.

Properties relevant to use:
Rhizome starch exhibits high swelling power and high clarity due to its high amylopectin/low amylose composition.
Leaf fibers have a cellulose content of ≈45 % and a lignin content of ≈10 % typical of bast fibers, providing flexibility and high tensile strength.
Seed oil possesses a saponification value of ≈190 mg KOH g⁻¹, an iodine value of ≈120 g I₂ 100 g⁻¹, and a fatty‑acid profile dominated by linoleic and oleic acids, supporting its use in biodiesel and cosmetic applications.

Standards and regulation:
Canna starch is listed in the EU Novel Food Catalogue as a novel food ingredient; modified canna starch may be used as acetylated distarch adipate (E1450).
Biodiesel from canna oil complies with EN 14214, and moisture and free‑fatty‑acid content are regulated by ISO 1666 and ISO 19928.

Sustainability and sourcing:
Canna indica is a fast‑growing herb that yields 30–45 t ha⁻¹ of biomass per year and can be harvested two to three times annually with low fertilizer input, making it a sustainable source of starch, fiber, and oil for tropical and subtropical regions.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Canna achiras Gillies ex D.Don Edwards's Bot. Reg. 16: t. 1358 (1830)
Canna altensteinii Bouché Linnaea 11: 326 (1837)
Canna amabilis T.Koyama & Nobuyuki Tanaka Bull. Natl. Sci. Mus. Tokyo, B 26: 11 (2000)
Canna aurantiaca Roscoe Monandr. Pl. Scitam. : t. 21 (1826)
Canna aureovittata G.Lodd. Bot. Cab. 5: t. 449 (1821)
Canna barbadica hort. ex Bouché Linnaea 8: 145 (1833)
Canna bidentata Bertol. Mem. Acc. Sc. Bolog. x. (1859) 33.
Canna bifida Herb. ex Roem. & Schult. Syst. Veg., ed. 15 bis 1(Add. 1): 69 (1817)
Canna brasiliensis Roscoe ex Spreng. Syst. Veg. 4(2): 5 (1827)
Canna carnea Roscoe Monandr. Pl. Scitam. : t. 15 (1826)
Canna cearensis Huber Bull. Herb. Boissier , sér. 2, 1: 297 (1901)
Canna chinensis Willd. Mag. Neuesten Entdeck. Gesammten Naturk. Ges. Naturf. Freunde Berlin 2: 170 (1808)
Canna cinnabarina Bouché Linnaea 18: 490 (1845)
Canna coccinea Mill. Gard. Dict. ed. 8 : n.º 3 (1768)
Canna coccinea var. bicolor Kraenzl. Pflanzenr. , IV, 47: 59 (1912)
Canna commutata Bouché Linnaea 8: 147 (1833)
Canna compacta Roscoe Monandr. Pl. Scitam. : t. 22 (1824)
Canna concinna Bouché Linnaea 18: 491 (1845)
Canna crocea Roem. & Schult. Syst. Veg., ed. 15 bis 1: 11 (1817)
Canna densifolia Bouché Linnaea 18: 489 (1845)
Canna discolor Lindl. Edwards's Bot. Reg. 15: t. 1231 (1829)
Canna discolor var. rubripunctata Nob.Tanaka Makinoa , n.s., 1: 31 (2001)
Canna discolor var. viridifolia Nob.Tanaka Makinoa , n.s., 1: 31 (2001)
Canna edulis Ker Gawl. Bot. Reg. 9: t. 775 (1824)
Canna ehrenbergii Bouché Linnaea 8: 150. 1833
Canna elegans Raf. Fl. Ludov. : 143 (1817)
Canna ellipticifolia Stokes Bot. Mat. Med. 1: 2 (1812)
Canna esculenta Lodd. Cat. ex Hort. Brit. (Loudon) 1. 1830
Canna exigua Bouché Linnaea 18: 490 (1845)
Canna eximia hort. ex Horan. Prodr. Monogr. Scitam. : 18 (1862)
Canna flavescens Link Handbuch 1: 226 (1829)
Canna floribunda Bouché Linnaea 18: 489 (1845)
Canna formosa Bouché Linnaea 18: 491 (1845)
Canna fulgida Bouché Linnaea 18: 490 (1845)
Canna heliconiifolia Hort.Berol. ex Bouché Linnaea 8: 164 (1833)
Canna heliconiifolia var. xalapensis (Horan.) Kraenzl. Pflanzenr. , IV, 47: 67 (1912)
Canna humilis Bouché Linnaea 8: 153 (1833)
Canna indica var. coccinea (Mill.) Aiton Hort. Kew. 1: 1. 1789
Canna indica var. edwardsii Regel Index Seminum (LE, Petropolitanus) 1866: 83 (1867)
Canna indica var. flava (Roscoe) Baker Fl. Brit. India 6: 261 1892
Canna indica var. limbata Petersen Fl. Bras. 3(3): 68 (1890)
Canna indica var. lutea (Mill.) Aiton Hort. Kew. 1: 1. 1789
Canna indica var. maculata Hook. Exot. Fl. 1: t. 53. 1823
Canna indica var. nepalensis (Bouché) Baker Fl. Brit. India 6: 261. 1892
Canna indica var. patens Aiton Hort. Kew. 1: 1 (1789)
Canna indica var. rubra Aiton Hort. Kew. 1: 1. 1789
Canna indica var. sanctae-rosae (Kraenzl.) Nob.Tanaka Makinoa , n.s., 1: 43 (2001)
Canna indica var. warszewiczii (A.Dietr.) Nob.Tanaka Makinoa , n.s., 1: 42 (2001)
Canna juncea Retz. Observ. Bot. 1: 9 (1779)
Canna laeta Bouché Linnaea 18: 489 (1845)
Canna lagunensis Lindl. Edwards's Bot. Reg. 16: t. 1311 (1830)
Canna lambertii Lindl. ex Ker Gawl. Bot. Reg. 6: t. 470 (1820)
Canna lanuginosa Roscoe Monandr. Pl. Scitam. : t. 16 (1827)
Canna leptochila Bouché Linnaea 8: 153 (1833)
Canna limbata Roscoe Monandr. Pl. Scitam. : t. 9 (1827)
Canna lutea Mill. Gard. Dict. ed. 8 : n.º 4 (1768)
Canna lutea var. aurantiaca Kraenzl. Pflanzenr. (Engler) 4, Fam. 47: 40. 1912
Canna lutea var. pallida Kraenzl. Pflanzenr. (Engler) 4, Fam. 47: 40. 1912
Canna macrophylla hort. ex Horan. Prodr. Monogr. Scitam. : 18 (1862)
Canna maculata Link Handbuch 1: 227 (1829)
Canna maxima Lodd. ex Roscoe Monandr. Pl. Scitam. : 16, t. 2 (1828)
Canna montana Blume Enum. Pl. Javae : 35 (1827)
Canna moritziana Bouché Linnaea 18: 492 (1845)
Canna nepalensis Hort.Par. ex D.Dietr. Syn. Pl. [D. Dietrich] i. 4.
Canna occidentalis Roscoe Bot. Reg. 9: t. 772. 1824 [1823 publ. 1824]
Canna orientalis Roscoe Monandr. Pl. Scitam. : t. 12 (1826)
Canna orientalis var. flava Roscoe Monandr. Pl. Scitam. 40. 1826
Canna pallida Roscoe Monandr. Pl. Scitam. : t. 19 (1824)
Canna patens Roscoe Trans. Linn. Soc. London 8: 338 (1807)
Canna pentaphylla D.Dietr. Syn. Pl. 1: 5 (1839)
Canna platyphylla Nees & Mart. Nova Acta Acad. Caes. Leop.-Carol. German. Nat. Cur. 11: 22 (1823)
Canna plurituberosa T.Koyama & Nobuyuki Tanaka J. Jap. Bot. 75: 89 (2000)
Canna poeppigii Bouché Linnaea 12: 143 (1838)
Canna polyclada Wawra Oesterr. Bot. Z. 13: 7 (1863)
Canna polymorpha Bouché Linnaea 8: 151 (1833)
Canna portoricensis Bouché Linnaea 12: 147 (1838)
Canna pruinosa Hoffmanns. Verz. Pfl.-Kult. , Nachtr. 2: 79 (1828)
Canna pulchra Bouché ex Horan. Prodr. Monogr. Scitam. : 16 (1862)
Canna pulchra Hassk. Cat. Hort. Bot. Bogor. Alt. : 52 (1844)
Canna recurvata Bouché Linnaea 18: 488 (1845)
Canna roscoeana Hort.Berol. ex Bouché Linnaea 8: 146 (1833)
Canna rotundifolia André Rev. Hort. (Paris) 1862: 371 (1862)
Canna rubra Willd. Mag. Neuesten Entdeck. Gesammten Naturk. Ges. Naturf. Freunde Berlin 2: 169 (1808)
Canna rubricaulis Link Enum. Hort. Berol. Alt. 1: 1 (1821)
Canna sanctae-rosae Kraenzl. Pflanzenr. , IV, 47: 40 (1912)
Canna sanguinea Hort.Angl. ex Bouché Linnaea 8: 154 (1833)
Canna sanguinea Warsz. ex Otto & A.Dietr. Allg. Gartenzeitung 19: 290 (1851)
Canna saturate-rubra Bouché ex K.Koch Berliner Allg. Gartenzeitung 1858: 386 (1858)
Canna schubertii Horan. Prodr. Monogr. Scitam. : 18 (1862)
Canna seleriana Kraenzl. Pflanzenr. , IV, 47: 56 (1912)
Canna sellowii Bouché Linnaea 8: 162 (1833)
Canna spectabilis Bouché Linnaea 18: 487 (1845)
Canna sulphurea hort. ex Bouché Linnaea 8: 150 (1833)
Canna surinamensis Bouché Linnaea 18: 491 (1845)
Canna tenuiflora Bouché ex A.Dietr. Sp. Pl. ed. 6 , 1: 13 (1831)
Canna textoria Noronha Mélang. Bot. , Prod. Phytol.: ? (1811)
Canna thyrsiflora Hegetschw. Scitaminum : t. 1, f. 8 (1813)
Canna tinei Tod. Cat. Hort. Panorm. (1858) 25.
Canna variabilis Willd. Mag. Neuesten Entdeck. Gesammten Naturk. Ges. Naturf. Freunde Berlin 2: 169 (1808)
Canna variegata Besser Cat. Jard. Bot. Krzemieniec : 25 (1810)
Canna variegatifolia Ciciar. Revista Mus. La Plata, Secc. Bot. 14: 334 (1995)
Canna ventricosa Bouché Linnaea 18: 488 (1845)
Canna warszewiczii A.Dietr. Allg. Gartenzeitung 19: 289 (1851)
Canna xalapensis Hort.Berol. ex Bouché Linnaea 8: 163 (1833)
Cannacorus indicus Medik. Hist. & Commentat. Acad. Elect. Sci. Theod.-Palat. 6: 379 (1790)
Cannacorus ovatus Moench Methodus : 526 (1794)
Distemon brasiliensis Bouché Linnaea 18: 495 (1845)
Distemon grandis Horan. Prodr. Monogr. Scitam. : 14 (1862)
Xyphostylis lutea Raf. Fl. Tellur. 4: 52 (1838)
Canna coccinea f. flaviflora Chodat & Hassl. Bull. Herb. Boissier , sér. 2, 3: 1108 (1903)
Canna denudata var. grandis Petersen Fl. Bras. 3(3): 75 (1890)
Canna lutea var. maculata Petersen Fl. Bras. (Martius) 3(3): 71. 1890 [1 Jan 1890]
Canna warszewiczii var. flameus Ram.Goyena Fl. Nicarag. 2: 806 (1911)
Canna ellipticifolia var. coccinea (Mill.) Stokes Bot. Mat. Med. 1: 2. 1812
Canna ellipticifolia var. lutea (Mill.) Stokes Bot. Mat. Med. 1: 2. 1812
Canna ellipticifolia var. patens (Aiton) Stokes Bot. Mat. Med. 1: 3. 1812
Canna ellipticifolia var. rubra Stokes Bot. Mat. Med. 1: 2 1812
Canna coccinea var. limbata Regel Index Seminum (LE) 1866: 85 1867
Canna patens var. limbata (Regel) Baker Gard. Chron. III, 13: 43 1893
Canna indica var. variegata Regel Index Seminum (LE, Petropolitanus) 1866: 83. 1867
Canna coccinea var. floribunda (Bouché) Regel Index Seminum (LE, Petropolitanus) 1866: 85. 1867
Canna indica var. karsteniana Regel Index Seminum (LE, Petropolitanus) 1866: 83. 1867
Canna coccinea var. concolor Regel Index Seminum (LE, Petropolitanus) 1866: 85. 1867
Canna texensis Regel Index Seminum (LE, Petropolitanus) 1866: 86. 1867 (1867)
Canna ascendens Ciciar. Darwiniana 45: 189 (2007)
Canna indica f. rubroaurantiaca Makino Ill. Fl. Nippon 707 1940
Canna indica subsp. orientalis Baker Fl. Brit. India 6: 260. 1892
Canna pallida var. maculata (Hook.) Roscoe Monandr. Pl. Scitam. t. 20 1828
Canna fuchsina Ciciar. Bot. Complutensis 34: 50 (2010)
Canna achiras Gill. Edwards's Bot. Reg. 15: t. 1358 1831
Canna indica var. coccinea Willd. Sp. Pl. 1: 3 1791
Canna crocea Lag. ex Rchb. Hort. Bot. t. 148.
Canna densiflora Bouché Linnaea 18: 489 1844
Canna gaboniensis Chaté Canna : 143 (1867)
Canna musifolia Année ex Chaté Canna : 143 (1867)
Canna caledonispeltata Chaté Canna : 140 (1867)
Canna peruviana-purpurea Année ex Chaté Canna : 150 (1867)
Canna peruviana-robusta Année ex Chaté Canna : 151 (1867)
Canna purpurea-spectablis Année ex Chaté Canna : 151 (1867)
Canna lutea var. genuina Kraenzl. Pflanzenr. , IV, 47: 40 (1912)
Canna lutea Larrañaga Escritos D. A. Larrañaga 2: 6 (1923)
Canna orientalis Bouché Linnaea 8: 152 (1833)
Canna speciosa Roscoe ex Sims Bot. Mag. 49: t. 2317 (1822)
Canna variegata Bouché Linnaea 18: 487 (1845)
Canna speciosa Hegetschw Scitaminum 5 (1813)
Canna zebrina Année ex André Pl. Feuill. Ornem. 126 (1866)
Canna tineoi Tod. Index Seminum (PAL, Panormitani) 1858: 25 (1858)
Canna robusta Année ex André Pl. Feuill. Ornem. 123 (1866)
Canna vanhouttei Lierv. ex André Pl. Feuill. Ornem. 127 (1866)
Canna peruviana Année ex André Pl. Feuill. Ornem. 123 (1866)
Canna expansa Année ex André Pl. Feuill. Ornem. 125 (1866)
Canna lavallei André Pl. Feuill. Ornem. : 128 (1866)
Canna houlletii André Pl. Feuill. Ornem. 127 (1866)
Canna musifolia-hybrida Année ex André Pl. Feuill. Ornem. 123 (1866)
Canna peruviana-spectabilis Année ex Chaté Canna 151 (1867)
Canna musifolia-edulis André Pl. Feuill. Ornem. 124 (1866)
Canna atronigricans André Pl. Feuill. Ornem. 127 (1866)
Canna liervalii André Pl. Feuill. Ornem. 128 (1866)
Canna porteana André Pl. Feuill. Ornem. 127 (1866)
Canna limbata var. hybrida Année ex André Pl. Feuill. Ornem. : 124 (1866)
Canna orientalis var. flavescens (Link) Baker Gard. Chron. , ser. 3, 13: 43 (1893)
Canna indica var. speciosa Baker Fl. Brit. India 6: 261 (1892)
Canna indica var. saturaterubra Regel Index Seminum (LE, Petropolitanus) 1866: 83 (1867)
Canna lutea var. aurantiaca (Roscoe) Regel Index Seminum (LE, Petropolitanus) 1866: 87 (1867)
Canna lutea var. pallida (Roscoe) Regel Index Seminum (LE, Petropolitanus) 1866: 87 (1867)
Canna nepalensis Bouché Linnaea 8: 158 (1833)
Canna lutea var. maculata (Hook.) Regel Index Seminum (LE, Petropolitanus) 1866: 87 (1867)
Canna musifolia unranked sanguinea Hend. & Andr.Hend. Gard. Chron. 1870: 446 (1870)
Canna aurantiaca unranked splendida Année ex André Pl. Feuill. Ornem. : 122 (1866)
Canna zebrina unranked nana André Pl. Feuill. Ornem. : 130 (1866)
Canna bihorellii G.Nicholson Ill. Dict. Gard. 1: 262 (1884)
Canna expansa-rubra G.Nicholson Ill. Dict. Gard. 1: 262 (1884)
Canna insignis G.Nicholson Ill. Dict. Gard. 1: 262 (1884)
Canna rendatleri G.Nicholson Ill. Dict. Gard. 1: 262 (1884)
Canna indica var. orientalis Baker
Canna occidentalis Ker Gawl. Bot. Reg. 9: t. 772 (1824)

Common names Top

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Language Common/alternative name
English indian shot
English wild canna
English garden canna
Spanish canna lutea
Spanish canna limbata
Spanish canna warszewiczii
Spanish canna cinnabarina
Spanish canna humilis
Spanish canna edulis
Spanish canna variabilis
Spanish achurú
Spanish caña de india
Spanish chisgua
Spanish cucuyus
Spanish cucuyús
Spanish imbiry
Spanish juquian
Spanish achuru
Spanish juquián
Afrikaans indiese kanna
Afrikaans tuinkanna
Arabic مارزوان
Arabic شجر ارروت
Arabic قنا هندي
Belarusian Канна індыйская
Bengali কলাবতী
Bengali সর্বজয়া
Catalan canya d'Índia
Catalan canna edulis
Czech dosna indická
German canna edulis
German indisches blumenrohr
German australische pfeilwurz
German achira
Persian اختر
Finnish intiankanna
French balisier
French balisier à chapelet
French conflore
French balisier comestible
French balisier d'inde
French balisier rouge
French tous-les-mois
French sissive
French safran marron
French gonflore
Hindi कर्दळ
Croatian narančasti kok
Upper Sorbian indiska bahorka
Upper Sorbian zbóžnikowe sylzy
Hungarian rózsanád
Armenian Կաննա հնդկական
Japanese ダンドク
Lithuanian indinė kana
Malagasy ambaradeda
Malagasy varandenda
Malagasy tsipikopiko
Malayalam തോട്ടവാഴ
Marathi कर्दळ
Malay bunga tasbih
Burmese ဗုဒ္ဓသရဏပင်
pam kanas
Polish paciorecznik indyjski
Polish canna edulis
Polish canna coccinea
Portuguese cana-da-Índia
Quechua canna edulis
Quechua achira
Russian Канна индийская
Russian Канна индейская
sd عقيق
Sinhala බුත්සරණ
Slovak kana indická
Swedish röd arrowrot
tcy ಬಾರೆ ಪೂ
Thai พุทธรักษากินหัว
Tonga misimisi
Tonga maranta arundinacea
Tonga iris sp.
ty re’a pua’aniho
Chinese 紫叶美人蕉
Chinese 美人蕉
Chinese 芭蕉芋
Chinese 蕉芋
Chinese 姜芋
Chinese 白花曇花
Chinese 白蓮蕉花
Chinese 紅花美人蕉
Chinese 紫葉美人蕉
Chinese 美人蕉根
Chinese 美人蕉花
Chinese 花叶竹芋
Zulu udumbedumbe

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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Germination/Propagation Top

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Sow seeds at 20°C, expecting germination within 3 months without further temperature treatment.
Requires Scarification: Scarification involves physically breaking, scratching, or softening the seed coat to allow water absorption and germination to occur. This can be done by nicking the seed coat with a knife or rubbing the seeds between sheets of sandpaper.
Requires Soaking: These seeds need to be soaked in warm water until they swell, which can take 24-48 hours. Seeds that float are usually not viable and should be discarded, along with the soaking water.
roots very brittle

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
  • Africa
    • East Tropical Africa
      • Kenya
      • Tanzania
      • Uganda
    • Macaronesia
      • Azores
      • Canary Islands
      • Cape Verde
      • Madeira
    • Middle Atlantic Ocean
      • Ascension
      • Saint Helena
    • Northeast Tropical Africa
      • Chad
      • Ethiopia
    • Northern Africa
      • Tunisia
    • South Tropical Africa
      • Angola
      • Malawi
      • Mozambique
      • Zambia
      • Zimbabwe
    • West Tropical Africa
      • Benin
      • Gambia
      • Guinea
      • Guinea-Bissau
      • Nigeria
      • Senegal
      • Togo
    • West-central Tropical Africa
      • Central African Republic
      • Equatorial Guinea
      • Gabon
      • Gulf Of Guinea Islands
      • Zaïre
    • Western Indian Ocean
      • Comoros
      • Madagascar
  • Asia-temperate
    • China
      • China South-central
      • China Southeast
      • Hainan
    • Eastern Asia
      • Japan
      • Ogasawara-Shoto
      • Taiwan
  • Asia-tropical
    • Indian Subcontinent
      • Assam
      • Bangladesh
      • East Himalaya
      • India
      • Nepal
      • Sri Lanka
    • Indo-China
      • Andaman Islands
      • Cambodia
      • Laos
      • Myanmar
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Malesia
      • Christmas Island
      • Jawa
      • Malaya
      • Philippines
    • Papuasia
      • Bismarck Archipelago
      • Solomon Islands
  • Australasia
    • Australia
      • New South Wales
      • Norfolk Island
      • Queensland
  • Europe
    • Middle Europe
      • Austria
    • Southwestern Europe
      • Portugal
      • Spain
  • Northern America
    • Mexico
      • Mexico Central
      • Mexico Gulf
      • Mexico Northeast
      • Mexico Southeast
      • Mexico Southwest
    • South-central U.S.A.
      • Texas
    • Southeastern U.S.A.
      • Alabama
      • Arkansas
      • Florida
      • Louisiana
      • South Carolina
  • Pacific
    • North-central Pacific
      • Hawaii
    • Northwestern Pacific
      • Caroline Islands
    • South-central Pacific
      • Cook Islands
      • Marquesas
      • Pitcairn Islands
      • Society Islands
      • Tuamotu
      • Tubuai Islands
    • Southwestern Pacific
      • Fiji
      • Gilbert Islands
      • New Caledonia
      • Samoa
      • Santa Cruz Island
      • Tonga
      • Vanuatu
      • Wallis-Futuna Islands
  • Southern America
    • Brazil
      • Brazil North
      • Brazil Northeast
      • Brazil South
      • Brazil Southeast
      • Brazil West-central
    • Caribbean
      • Bahamas
      • Bermuda
      • Cuba
      • Dominican Republic
      • Haiti
      • Jamaica
      • Leeward Islands
      • Puerto Rico
      • Southwest Caribbean
      • Trinidad-Tobago
      • Windward Islands
    • Central America
      • Belize
      • Costa Rica
      • El Salvador
      • Guatemala
      • Honduras
      • Nicaragua
      • Panamá
    • Northern South America
      • French Guiana
      • Guyana
      • Suriname
      • Venezuela
    • Southern South America
      • Argentina Northeast
      • Argentina Northwest
      • Juan Fernández Islands
      • Paraguay
      • Uruguay
    • Western South America
      • Bolivia
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Galápagos
      • Peru

Links to other databases Top

Suggest others/fix!
Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0000343805
UNII 40F34Q82G6
Florida Plant Atlas 1866
Flora of Alabama 3835
USDA Plants CAIN19
Tropicos 5800006
INPN 87776
Flora of Italy 8098
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:319130-2
The Plant List kew-223906
PFAF Canna edulis
Open Tree Of Life 156276
Observations.org 129123
NCBI Taxonomy 4628
NBN Atlas NBNSYS0200003414
Nature Serve 2.132693
IPNI 319130-2
iNaturalist 146643
GBIF 8034409
Freebase /m/08dmgv
EPPO CNNIN
EOL 1125045
Elurikkus 638177
USDA GRIN 8858
Wikipedia Canna_indica

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

Below is displayed the reference genome only!
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
Accession Assembly
Name Level Submitter Released Coverage Size
GCA_034359265.1 ASM3435926v1 Complete Genome Guizhou University 2023-12-13 210 718.04 Mb

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Title Authors Publication Released IDs
Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used by various ethnic tribes of Mizoram, India Ralte L, Singh YT PLoS One 10-May-2024
PMCID:PMC11086894
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0302792
PMID:38728345
Fatty Acids and Starch Identification within Minute Archaeological Fragments: Qualitative Investigation for Assessing Feasibility Ordoñez-Araque R, Ramos-Guerrero L, Vargas-Jentzsch P, Romero-Bastidas M, Rodríguez-Herrera N, Vallejo-Holguín R, Fuentes-Gualotuña C, Ruales J Foods 02-Apr-2024
PMCID:PMC11011963
doi:10.3390/foods13071090
PMID:38611394
Heterogeneous Antibiotic Resistance Gene Removal Impedes Evaluation of Constructed Wetlands for Effective Greywater Treatment Itzhari D, Shuai W, Hartmann EM, Ronen Z Antibiotics (Basel) 29-Mar-2024
PMCID:PMC11047525
doi:10.3390/antibiotics13040315
PMID:38666991
The paradox of plant preference: The malaria vectors Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles coluzzii select suboptimal food sources for their survival and reproduction Paré PS, Hien DF, Youba M, Yerbanga RS, Cohuet A, Gouagna L, Diabaté A, Ignell R, Dabiré RK, Gnankiné O, Lefèvre T Ecol Evol 25-Mar-2024
PMCID:PMC10963300
doi:10.1002/ece3.11187
PMID:38533352
Assessing Alien Plant Invasions in Urban Environments: A Case Study of Tshwane University of Technology and Implications for Biodiversity Conservation Nelufule T, Shivambu TC, Shivambu N, Moshobane MC, Seoraj-Pillai N, Nangammbi T Plants (Basel) 18-Mar-2024
PMCID:PMC10975853
doi:10.3390/plants13060872
PMID:38592858
A nature-based closed-loop wastewater treatment system at vehicle-washing facilities: From linear to circular economy Afzal M, Arslan M, Younus S, Müller JA, Usman M, Yasin M, Mehmood MA, Mehdi T, Islam E, Tauseef M, Iqbal S iScience 06-Mar-2024
PMCID:PMC10957447
doi:10.1016/j.isci.2024.109361
PMID:38523776
Enhanced Retention of Cd(II) by Exfoliated Bentonite and Its Methoxy Form: Steric and Energetic Studies Abukhadra MR, Nasser N, El-Sherbeeny AM, Al Zoubi W ACS Omega 29-Feb-2024
PMCID:PMC10938405
doi:10.1021/acsomega.3c08592
PMID:38496923
Ethnobotanical study of traditional medicinal plants used by the local Gamo people in Boreda Abaya District, Gamo Zone, southern Ethiopia Zemede J, Mekuria T, Ochieng CO, Onjalalaina GE, Hu GW J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 28-Feb-2024
PMCID:PMC10900619
doi:10.1186/s13002-024-00666-z
PMID:38419092
Genetic Diversity Analysis and Core Germplasm Construction of Rubus chingii Hu Zhou Z, Liu F, Xu Y, Hu W Plants (Basel) 23-Feb-2024
PMCID:PMC10934504
doi:10.3390/plants13050618
PMID:38475465
Assessing HCH isomer uptake in Alnus glutinosa: implications for phytoremediation and microbial response Amirbekov A, Vrchovecka S, Riha J, Petrik I, Friedecky D, Novak O, Cernik M, Hrabak P, Sevcu A Sci Rep 20-Feb-2024
PMCID:PMC10879209
doi:10.1038/s41598-024-54235-1
PMID:38378833
Assembly processes of rhizosphere and phyllosphere bacterial communities in constructed wetlands created via transformation of rice paddies Deng N, Liu C, Tian Y, Song Q, Niu Y, Ma F Front Microbiol 20-Feb-2024
PMCID:PMC10913029
doi:10.3389/fmicb.2024.1337435
PMID:38444812
Purification Effect of Water Eutrophication Using the Mosaic System of Submerged–Emerged Plants and Growth Response Chang B, Xu Y, Zhang Z, Wang X, Jin Q, Wang Y Plants (Basel) 19-Feb-2024
PMCID:PMC10891872
doi:10.3390/plants13040560
PMID:38498525
Canna Starch Improves Intestinal Barrier Function, Inhibits Allergen Uptake, and Suppresses Anaphylactic Symptoms in Ovalbumin-Induced Food Allergy in Mice Koida A, Tanaka M, Kosaka R, Okuda S, Takei S, Ota S, Yokoyama S, Miyake K, Watanabe H Biomolecules 12-Feb-2024
PMCID:PMC10886450
doi:10.3390/biom14020215
PMID:38397452
New developments on vermifiltration as a bio-ecological wastewater treatment technology: Mechanism, application, performance, modelling, optimization, and sustainability Y. Saapi SS, Andrianisa HA, Zorom M, Mounirou LA, Kouassi HA, Ahossouhe MS Heliyon 10-Feb-2024
PMCID:PMC10875448
doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25795
PMID:38375316
Energy harvesting from plants using hybrid microbial fuel cells; potential applications and future exploitation Greenman J, Thorn R, Willey N, Ieropoulos I Front Bioeng Biotechnol 31-Jan-2024
PMCID:PMC10865378
doi:10.3389/fbioe.2024.1276176
PMID:38357705

Phytochemical Profile Top

Add a new one!
Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
Name PubChem ID Canonical SMILES MW Found in Proof
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / 2-arylbenzofuran flavonoids
(R)-2-(((2R,3R)-4-((E)-3-((R)-1-Carboxy-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethoxy)-3-oxoprop-1-en-1-yl)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-7-hydroxy-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-3-carbonyl)oxy)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)propanoic acid 11629084 Click to see 718.60 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2004.06.003
Salvianic acid B 119177 Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1CC(C(=O)O)OC(=O)C=CC2=C3C(C(OC3=C(C=C2)O)C4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O)C(=O)OC(CC5=CC(=C(C=C5)O)O)C(=O)O)O)O 718.60 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2004.06.003
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Anthracyclines
Aranciamycin J 122177931 Click to see 514.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2004.06.003
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Coumaric acids and derivatives
(S)-Rosmarinic acid 639655 Click to see 360.30 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2004.06.003
3-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-2-[3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyloxy]propanoic acid 5099 Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1CC(C(=O)O)OC(=O)C=CC2=CC(=C(C=C2)O)O)O)O 360.30 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2004.06.003
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acid esters / Coumaric acid esters
[(2R,3R,4S,5S)-5-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-6-(acetyloxymethyl)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-3-hydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)-4-[(E)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyl]oxyoxolan-2-yl]methyl (E)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate 21579253 Click to see CC(=O)OCC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2(C(C(C(O2)COC(=O)C=CC3=CC=C(C=C3)O)O)OC(=O)C=CC4=CC=C(C=C4)O)CO)O)O)O 676.60 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2004.06.003
[(2S,3S,4R,5R)-2-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-6-(acetyloxymethyl)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-4-hydroxy-5-[[(E)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyl]oxymethyl]-2-(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-3-yl] (E)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate 21579252 Click to see 706.60 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2004.06.003
[2-[6-(Acetyloxymethyl)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-4-hydroxy-5-[3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyloxymethyl]-2-(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-3-yl] 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate 73803972 Click to see 706.60 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2004.06.003
[5-[6-(Acetyloxymethyl)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-3-hydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)-4-[3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyloxy]oxolan-2-yl]methyl 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate 73803973 Click to see CC(=O)OCC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2(C(C(C(O2)COC(=O)C=CC3=CC=C(C=C3)O)O)OC(=O)C=CC4=CC=C(C=C4)O)CO)O)O)O 676.60 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2004.06.003
coumaroyl(-6)Fruf(b2-1a)Glc 11027343 Click to see 488.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2004.06.003
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids
3-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)Prop-2-Enoic Acid 2518 Click to see 180.16 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2004.06.003
Caffeic Acid 689043 Click to see 180.16 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2004.06.003

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