CANNA COMPACTA. 
MONANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
SECT. I. CANN. 
Gey. Coar.—Anther single, attached to the margin of the petal-like filament; style erect, club-shaped; stigma 
obtuse ; capsule three-celled ; seeds numerous. 
Spec. Cuar.—Spike erect, compact ; flowers numerous; upper lip of the interior limb of the corolla in two 
sections, ovate, erect, slightly emarginate ; lower lip linear, revolute, notched at the apex. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Roots fibrous; stem erect, compressed, leaves broad-lanceolate-acute, equilateral, margins membranous ; 
inflorescence rising from a general sheath, four inches long, imbricate, compact ; bractes inferior, ovate, emarginate, 
biflorous ; calyx superior, triphyllous, white ; corolla with a double limb ; exterior limb in three sections, unequal ; 
interior, upper lip in two sections, unequal, broad, ovate, slightly emarginate ; lower lip, narrow, linear, notched 
at the apex, revolute; filament linear, erect; anther slightly attached to the margin; style clavate, erect; capsule 
ovate, three-celled; seeds numerous. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
This beautiful species of Canna, which approaches in appearance nearer than any other to the true Scitaminean 
plants, flowered in the Conservatory of John Blackburne, Esq. one of the Representatives in Parliament for 
the County of Lancaster, at his seat, at Hale, in that county; to which place the fine collection of plants first 
formed by his Grandfather, the late John Blackburne, Esq. of Orford, is now removed. To that distinguished 
Cultivator of natural history, the County of Lancaster is indebted for one of the earliest collections in the 
kingdom, which he lived to enjoy to the unusual age of 93 years. A similar taste was inherited by his daughter, 
the late Mrs. Anne Blackburne, and, in commemoration of their united merits, the eminent Botanist John 
Reinhold Foster has inscribed a genus of plants by the name of Buacksurnia.* The collection thus formed, 
is still preserved with equal care, and contains specimens of some of the finest palms in the kingdom. 
The drawing of the present plant, to which we have given the name of compacta, from its dense spike, was 
made from the specimen which flowered at Hale, in 1820. From what country it was brought, or at what time 
it was introduced, is not known, nor has it, we believe, appeared in any other collection. 
REFERENCES. 
. Upper sections of the interior limb of the corolla. 
. Filament, anther, and style. 
Lip. 
. Exterior limb of the corolla. 
. Bracte, containing two flowers. 
Do S HW 
. Germen and calyx. 
* BLACKBURNIA, sic ob ingentia merita in rem naturalem appellata, a JOANNE BLACKBURNE, armig. qui Orfordia, Lancastriensis Comitattis, 
in horto amenissimo, plurimas exoticas plantas colit; et ab ejus filia, ANNA BLacKBURNE; que non solum eodem in plantas amore fertur, verum 
etiam incredibile solertia, aves, insecta, testacea innumera, undique Collegit—Forster, Charac. Gen. p. 12. 
