CANNACEAE
Morphological description
Erect, rhizomatous herbs.
Leaves
Leaves simple, spiral, entire; petioles sheathing.
Flowers
Flower bisexual; perianth in 2 rows of 3, free; 5 petaloid staminodes and one with a 1-locular anther; ovary inferior, 3-locular, ovules many.
Different from: Marantaceae: petioles swollen apically, ovules one per cell. - Zingiberaceae: aromatic, perianth united, anther 2-locular.
Distribution: The only genus, Canna, is native in America; some species are widespread through cultivation.
Notes: Some species are cultivated as ornamentals, one for its edible rhizomes.
Literature: C.A. Backer & R.C. Bakhuizen van den Brink, Fl. Java 3 (1968) 76-77.
Spot characters (Van Balgooy): Canna 92, 95, 101.
Illustrations: Fig. 43. Canna edulis Ker. (Cannaceae). Reproduced from J.J. Ochse & R.C. Bakhuizen van den Brink, Vegetables of the Dutch East Indies (1980) fig. 56.
Images in PhytoImages for Cannaceae.