Once upon a time, in the lush rainforests of South America, there lived a mysterious plant named Cannaceae. This extraordinary plant had vibrant and beautiful flowers, each with its own unique pattern and color.
Legend has it that Cannaceae possessed magical powers that could heal any ailment. Villagers would visit the plant whenever they fell ill, seeking its miraculous touch. It was said that even a mere glimpse of the Cannaceae flower could bring prosperity and good luck.
But there was a catch to this enchanting plant. Cannaceae only bloomed once every hundred years, making it incredibly rare and hard to find. People believed that this was due to the plant’s deep connection with nature and its alignment with the cycles of the universe.
Throughout the years, many adventurers embarked on quests to find the elusive Cannaceae, driven by the desire to witness its beauty and harness its healing powers. Some succeeded, while others were left empty-handed.
The story of Cannaceae reminds us of the power and wonder of nature, as well as the importance of patience and perseverance in our own journeys. It teaches us to appreciate the rare and extraordinary moments in life, just like the fleeting bloom of the Cannaceae flower.
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Short Description
Canna or canna lily is the only genus of flowering plants in the family Cannaceae, consisting of 10 species. All of the genus’s species are native to the American tropics and naturalized in Europe, India and Africa in the 1860s. Although they grow native to the tropics, most cultivars have been developed in temperate climates and are easy to grow in most countries of the world, as long as they receive at least 6–8 hours average sunlight during the summer, and are moved to a warm location for the winter. See the Canna cultivar gallery for photographs of Canna cultivars.
Cannas are not true lilies, but have been assigned by the APG II system of 2003 to the order Zingiberales in the monocot clade Commelinids, together with their closest relatives, the gingers, spiral gingers, bananas, arrowroots, heliconias, and birds of paradise.
The plants have large foliage, so horticulturists have developed selected forms as large-flowered garden plants. Cannas are also used in agriculture as a source of starch for human and animal consumption. C. indica and C. glauca have been grown into many cultivars in India and Africa.
Description
Canna (foliage group) ‘Auguste Ferrier’
The plants are large tropical and subtropical herbaceous perennials with a rhizomatous rootstock. The broad, flat, alternate leaves that are such a feature of these plants, grow out of a stem in a long, narrow roll and then unfurl. The leaves are typically solid green, but some cultivars have glaucose, brownish, maroon, or even variegated leaves.
The flowers are asymmetric and composed of three sepals and three petals that are small, inconspicuous, and hidden under extravagant stamens. What appear to be petals are the highly modified stamens or staminodes. The staminodes number (1–) 3 (–4) (with at least one staminodal member called the labellum, always being present. A specialized staminode, the stamen, bears pollen from a half-anther. A somewhat narrower “petal” is the pistil, which is connected down to a three-chambered ovary.
Cultivation
Canna (miniature group) ‘Oberon’
Cannas grow best in full sun with moderate water in well-drained, rich or sandy soil. They grow from perennial rhizomes, but are frequently grown as annuals in temperate zones for an exotic or tropical look in the garden. In arid regions, cannas are often grown in the water garden, with the lower inch of pot submerged. In all areas, high winds tear the leaves, so shelter is advised.
The rhizomes are sensitive to frost and will rot if left unprotected in freezing conditions. In areas with winter temperatures below −10 °C (14 °F) in the winter (< USDA Zone 8b), the rhizomes can be dug up before freezing and stored (above 7 °C or 45 °F) for replanting in the spring. Otherwise, they should be protected by a thick layer of mulch over winter.
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