238 



CANNA 



C^NNA 



in a terminal raceme or panicle, very irregular : capsule 

 3-loculed and several-many-seeded (p, Fig. 346) ; sepals, 

 s. 3 and small and usually green ; petals 3, ccc, mostly 

 narrow and pointed, green or colored ; style single and 

 long, e ; the stamens are represented by petal-like, ob- 

 lanceolate 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 flower, 

 6; the pollen is borne in a single-loculed anther, f, borne 

 on the side of a narrow and more or less coiled stami- 

 nodium. 



A generation ago, Cannas were grown for their 

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

 jointed, with small and late flowers (Fig. 347). 

 The parent of the old-time garden race of tall 

 Cannas was C. Anncei, raised by M. Anne"e, of 

 France, from seeds of C. Ne- 

 palensis, sown in 1848. The 

 flowers from which the seeds 

 were taken probably had been 

 pollinated by some other spe- 

 cies, 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. 

 ETiemanni (and C. iridiflora 

 hybrlda}. This was of interme- 

 diate stature, with showy foli- 

 age and better drooping flow- 

 ers. Under this name plants are still sold, but they 

 may not be identical with the original C. Elie- 

 manni. This race has been variously crossed with 

 other species ana forms, and from innumerable 

 seedlings there have been selected the dwarf and 

 large-flowered Cannas (Figs. 348, 349), 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 

 origin ; also, as Crozy Cannas, from the most re- 

 nowned breeder of them. Within recent years, 

 another race of Cannas has arisen from the amal- 

 gamation of our native Canna flaccida with the gar- 

 den forms and with G. iridiflora. These have 

 come mostly from Italy and are known as Italian 

 Cannas; also, as orchid-flowered Cannas. The flow- 

 ers are characterized by soft and flowing iris -like 

 outlines, but they are short-lived. Of this class 

 are the varieties Italia (Fig. 350), Austria, Bavaria, 

 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, Bailey, Plant-Breeding, 140 ; also, particu- 

 larly for the history of the Italian race, Revue 

 Horticole, 1895, 516, and Gardeners' Chronicle, 

 Dec. 14, 1895. 



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 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 

 fldy condition. If the best plants are desired, give 

 the soil and treatment which produce the best re- 

 sults with Indian corn. 



>New varieties are raised from seeds. The seeds 

 usually germinate slowly, and sometimes not at all, 

 unless the hard integument is cut or filed, or is 

 softened by soaking in water ; these precautions 

 taken, they germinate quickly. Sow late in winter, in 

 rather strong bottom heat, either in flats or pots. Prick 

 out, and give plenty of room as they grow. 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 1-bud parts usually give best re- 



sults if started in pots, so that the plant is 6-12 in. 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. 351). 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, 

 particularly in shrub borders, it is well to plant the en- 

 tire 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 as if they were potatoes. 

 Then store them on shelves in a cellar 

 which will keep Irish or round potatoes 

 well. Take care that the roots do not be- 

 come too warm, particularly be- 

 fore cold weather sets in ; nor 

 ^^^^ too moist. Well cured roots. 



'ftSPIiik from wel1 matured plants usu- 

 ally keep without difficulty. 



Cannas are commonly used 

 only in formal beds, but most 

 excellent effects may be se- 

 cured by scattering them singly 

 or in very small clumps in the 

 hardy border or amongst shrub- 

 bery. 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 center-pieces 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 ft. high, and give an 

 abundance of large early flowers. The Canna al- 

 ways must be used for bold planting effects, be- 

 cause the flowers have not sufficient durability to 

 be useful as cut flowers. As individual blooms, 

 the flowers are not usually attractive, but they are 

 showy and interesting in the mass and at a dis- 

 tance. The new race of Italian or Flaccida Cannas 

 has more attractive flowers, but even these are 

 most useful when on the plant. Of varieties there 

 are legion, and many new ones are imported each 

 year, chiefly from France; and there are so many 

 new aspirants each year that it is not worth while 

 to enumerate varieties in a cyclopedia. 



The garden Cannas are now so much varied and 

 inter-bred that it is no longer possible to classify 

 them by the characters of the species. One of the 

 best classificatory schemes is the following ( adapted 

 fromG. C. III. 14:432): 



I. Tall varieties. 

 A. Foliage green. 



B. Self -colored varieties. 



C. Minor flower-segments narrow, 

 cc. Minor flower-segments broad. 

 BB. Bicolor forms, in which the lip is of a dif- 

 ferent color from the other segments. 

 Divided into c and cc, as above. 

 BBB. Spotted varieties. Including c and cc, as 



above. 



BBBB. Blotched varieties. Including c and cc. 

 BBBBB. Margined varieties. Including c and cc. 

 AA. Foliage purple. Divisions as under A. 

 349. II. Dwarf varieties. Divisions as under I. 



To many of the garden forms and hybrids spe- 

 cific Latin names have been given ; but the follow- 

 ing synopsis (adapted from Baker's "Synopsis of 

 the Species of Cannas," in G.C. III. 13: 42, 70, 164, 

 196) gives a general view of the original species. The 

 names here accounted for are : aurantiaca, 14; aureo- 

 vittata, 4; carnea, 15; cinnabarina,6; coccinea, 6; eom- 

 mutata, 14; compacta, 13; crocea, 14; densifolia, 5; de- 

 nudata,20', discolor,19; divaricata,2Q-, edulis, S; Ehren- 

 bergii, 5 ; esculenta, 9 ; excelsa, 20 ; exigna, 5 ; Fintel- 

 manni, 3 ; flaccida, 21 ; flavescens, 5 ; floribunda, 4 ; 

 formosa, 6 ; fulgida, 6 ; gigantea, 7 ; glauca, 10 ; heli- 

 coniae folia, 11 ; humilis, 5 ; Indica, 1 ; iridiflora, 22 



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