CANNA COCCINEA. 
MONANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
SECT. I. CANN. 
Guy. Cuar.—Anther single, attached to the margin of the petal-like filament; style erect, club-shaped ; stigma 
an obtuse scale; seeds globose, numerous. 
Src. Cuar.—Upper lip of interior limb of corolla erect, in three sections, one smaller, sections emarginate, 
lower lip bifid, yellow, with streaks of red. 
Syy.—Canna coccinea. Aiton Hort. Kew, p. 1. Ed. 2. 
Canna Indica, var. (¥) coccinea. Willd. Spec. Pl. vol. i. p. 3. Canna rubra (Indica (%) coccinea.) Willd. 
Enum. Pl. Berol. vol. i. p. 2. 
Canna speciosa, major. Hegetschweiler, Com. Bot. tab. 1. fig. 7. B. The flower only. 
Canna coccinea. Roemer & Schultes, vol. i. p. 11. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Root tuberous; stem from four to six feet high ; leaves alternate, ovate-lanceolate, undulate and membranous 
at the margin; sheaths of the petioles slightly downy ; calyx of three lanceolate segments, pale red; outer limb 
of corolla of three linear-lanceolate segments, erect, flesh colour; upper lip of the inner limb of the corolla of 
three erect, unequal segments, the middle one being generally the smallest, and sometimes wanting; sections 
emarginate, with a deep irregular division ; colour bright scarlet, lower lip narrow, linear, reflexed, bifid at the 
apex, yellow, with longitudinal scarlet spots; filament small, linear, intire, declined, deep yellow or orange colour, 
with red lines, anther long-linear, grooved, adhering to the margin near the summit; style erect, spatulate, stigma 
a white scale. ; 
OBSERVATIONS. 
This elegant species of Canna has long been introduced into this country, having been described in the first 
edition of the Gardener’s Dictionary by Philip Miller, by whom it was cultivated in 1731. That it is a native of 
America there can be no doubt. 
Willdenow has remarked, that one of the segments of the corolla is sometimes wanting; but observes, that 
in this case the rudiment of the segment may generally be found in its place. He distinguishes this species 
into two varieties, one with a compressed, the other with a trigonous rachis, but I have not met with such 
distinction. He also observes, that the lower lip is sometimes found entirely scarlet, a variation which seems 
much more likely to occur than the former. 
On examining the flower of C. coccinea about three days before it expands, the anther appears intire, 
resembling a grain of wheat, but more oblong, and the style-in contact with it. In examining it again, the 
day before expansion, the anther appears burst, and the pollen adhering to the style. The pollen is white, and 
almost as large as a poppy seed. When the flowers open, the anther is shrivelled and effete. 
REFERENCES. 
1. The three segments of the upper lip of corolla. 
2. Filament, anther, style and stigma. 
3. Lower lip. 
4. Outer limb of corolla. 
5. Germen and calyx. 
6 & 7. Filament, anther, style and stigma, as they appear before the flower expands. 
