654 



CANNA 



CANNA 



779. The parts of the Canna flower. 



(s) 3 and small and usually green; petals (ccc) 3, 

 mostly narrow and pointed, green or colored; style (e) 

 single and long; the stamens are commonly petal-like, 

 oblanceolate bodies or staminodia (aaab), 2 or 3 of 



which are usually 

 much produced 

 and broadened, 

 and one is deflexed 

 and narrower and 

 forms the lip of 

 the fl. (6); the 

 pollen is borne in a 

 single-ioculed an- 

 ther (/), borne on 

 the side of a nar- 

 row and more or 

 less coiled stam- 

 inodium. In the 

 latest monograph, 

 1912 (Kranzlin, in 

 Engler's Pflan- 

 zenreich, hft. 56), 

 51 species of 

 Canna are de- 

 scribed from sub- 

 tropical and tropi- 

 cal Amer. and 

 Asia. 



A generation or two ago, cannas were grown for their 

 foliage or mass-effect. They were tall and long-jointed, 

 with small and* late flowers (Fig. 780). An old-time 

 garden race of tall cannas was C. Anmei, raised by 

 M. Anne"e, of France, from seeds of the true C. nepal- 

 ensis, sown in 1848. The flowers from which the seeds 

 were taken probably had been pollinated by some other 

 species, most likely with C. glauca. In 1863, a new 

 race appeared, as the result of the union of C. iridiflora 

 with C. Warscewiczii. This hybrid was known as C. 

 Ehemanni (and C. iridiflora hybrida). This was of inter- 

 mediate stature, with showy foliage and better droop- 

 ing flowers. Under this name plants are still sold, but 

 they may not be identical with the original C. Ehe- 

 manni. This race has been variously crossed with other 

 species and forms, and from innumerable seedlings there 

 have been selected the dwarf and large-flowered cannas 

 (Figs. 781, 782), which have now practically driven out 

 the old tall small -flowered 

 forms. These dwarf cannas are 

 often known as French cannas, 

 from the country of their ori- 

 gin; also, as Crozy cannas, 

 from a renowned breeder of 

 them. Within recent years, 

 another race of cannas has 

 arisen from the amalgamation 

 of our native C. flacdda with 

 the garden forms and with C. 

 iridiflora. These have come 

 mostly from Italy and are 

 known as Italian cannas; also 

 as orchid-flowered cannas. The 

 flowers are characterized by 

 soft and flowing iris-like out- 

 lines, but they are short-lived. 

 Of this class are the varieties 

 Italia (Fig. 783), Austria, Ba- 

 varia, Burgundia, America, 

 Pandora, Burbank and others. 

 For a sketch of the evolution of 

 the garden cannas, see J. G. 

 Baker, Journ. Roy. Hort. Soc., 

 Jan., 1894; also, for the his- 

 tory of the Italian race, Revue 

 Horticole, 1895, 516, and Gar- 

 deners' Chronicle, Dec. 14, 

 780. Old-time canna. 1895; Kranzlin, cited above. 



The culture of cannas is simple and easy. They 

 demand a warm, friable, rich and moist soil. They 

 are injured by frost, and therefore should not be 

 planted out until the weather is thoroughly settled. For 

 dense mass effects, set the plants not more than 1 foot 

 apart each way, but if it is desired to show individual 

 plants and their flowers at the best, give three times 

 that amount of room to a single plant. Pick the flowers 

 as soon as they wilt, to prevent the formation of seeds 

 (which causes the plant to lessen flowering), and keep 

 the plants in tidy condition. Give the soil and treat- 

 ment that produce the best results with Indian corn. 



New varieties are raised from seeds. The seeds 

 usually germinate slowly, and sometimes not at all, 

 unless the integument is cut or filed, or is softened by 

 soaking in water; these precautions taken, they germi- 

 nate quickly. Sow late in winter, in rather strong bottom 

 heat, in flats or pots. Prick out, and give plenty of 

 room. They should make blooming plants the first year. 



Commonly, cannas are propagated by dividing the 

 rootstock. This rootstock is a branchy mass, with many 

 large buds. If stock is not abundant, as many plants 

 may be made from a rootstock 

 as there are buds, although the 

 weak buds produce weak plants. 

 Leave as much tissue as possible 

 with each bud. These one-bud 

 parts usually give best results 

 if started in pots, so that the 

 plant is 6 to 12 inches high at 

 planting time. The 

 commercial canna 

 plants are grown 

 mostly in pots. If 

 one has sufficient 

 roots, however, it 

 is better not to cut 

 so close, but to 

 leave several strong 

 buds on each piece 

 (as shown in Fig. 

 784). These pieces 

 may be planted 

 directly in the 

 ground, although 

 more certain results 

 are to be secured by 

 starting them in the 

 house in boxes or 

 pots. If strong 

 effects are desired, particuarly in shrub borders, it is 

 well to plant the entire stool. In the fall, when the 

 plants are killed by frost and the tops have dried a 

 few days, dig the roots, and let them dry, retaining 

 some of the earth on them. Then store them on 

 shelves in a cellar that will keep Irish or round pota- 

 toes well. Take care that the roots do not become too 

 warm, particularly before cold weather sets in; nor 

 too moist. Well-cured roots from matured plants 

 usually keep without much difficulty. If they do not 

 hold much earth, it is well to throw a thin covering of 

 light soil over them, particularly if they are the highly 

 improved kinds. 



Cannas are commonly used only in formal beds, but 

 most excellent effects may be secured by scattering 

 them singly or in very small clumps in the hardy 

 border or amongst shrubbery. Against a heavy back- 

 ground of green, the gaudy flowers show to their 

 best, and the ragged effect of the dying flowers is not 

 noticed. They also make excellent centerpieces for 

 formal beds. The tall-growing cannas, with small and 

 late flowers, have given way almost wholly to the 

 modern race of Crozy or French dwarf cannas, which 

 usually remain under 4 feet high, and give an abun- 

 dance of large early flowers. The canna always must 

 be used for bold planting effects, because the flowers 



781. Modern flowering canna. 



