INDIAN REED; 



OR, 



CANNA INDICA. 



This beautiful plant is native of warm climates, and was early introduced into our gardens, 

 even as far back as the time of Gerard, who mentions it as growing in his garden in 1596. 

 From a tuberous, horizontal, knotty root, proceed several stalks, which in their early state, are 

 protected by the young leaves, which are beautifully convoluted, and open at top, but as the stem 

 rises, these take their position around it, alternate, spreading out to the extent of a foot in 

 length, and half a foot in breadth, channelled, undulated, with parallel nerves running to the 

 membranous edges; the leaves at their bases encompass the stem. The flowers at first are all 

 covered by a common green Spatha, this afterwards embraces the lower part of the flower-stalk- 

 the flowers are in spikes, often two together, first protected by a small oblong Involucre, and 

 another, by its side, resembling a small leaf; the Perianth consists of three small, concave spear- 

 like, coloured leaves ; the Corolla is sexpartite, the three outer lacinia., or segments, are concave 

 spear-hke, thrice the length of the leaves of the perianth ; and the three inner lacini* are twice 

 the length of these, two of them ascending, one turned to the side, often bifid, forming a kind of 

 upper hp, or helmet, protecting the Nectary, which is also deeply bipartite, the upper lacinia 

 of which contains both the sessile Anther, and the spatulate Pistil ; its extreme part is first 

 ascending, then rather revolute, but the under lacinia is revolute in a contrary direction to the 

 other, and forms, as it were, the under lip of this pseudo-ringent Flower. Impregnation being 

 performed, the flower (as it is called) being gone by, the swollen Germen next appears beset with 

 points, crowned with the three-leaved perianth above, and the two scaly leaves below, or invo- 

 lucres, and It afterwards becomes a rough Capsule, three-sided, three-celled, containing a triple 

 row of seeds, the size of a large pea, black, shining, so hard as to be used as shot by the Indians 

 and by the Roman Catholics as beads, for making their Rosaries. It comes under Class I of 

 LiNN^us. MoNANDRiA, one husband, and Order I. Monogynia, one wife. We have been 

 so fortunate as to be favoured with the following most elegant and appropriate lines on this 

 beautiful flower by a poet, who has often before very kindly obliged us. 



Where sacred Ganges * proudly rolls 

 O'er Indian plains his winding way. 

 By rubied rocks and arching shades f, 

 Impervious to the glare of day. 



Bright Canfia, veil'd in Tyrian robe, '^ ^ 



Views her lov'd lord with duteous eye; 

 Together both united bloom, 

 And both together fade and die.— 



