AT, 48 
CANNA GIGANTEA. : | a | 
Tall Indian-Shot. 
MONANDRIA MONOGYNIA.—Navt. Ono. CANN. 
Gen. Cuar.—Anthera simplex, margini filamenti petaloidis affixa. Stylus 
spathulatus, adnatus tubo corolle: stigma lineare. Capsula 3-locularis, 
3-valvis ; semina plura.—Roxburgh. 
Canna gigantea; foliis petiolatis oblongo-lanceolatis, perianthii limbo 
interiore trifido, laciniis insequalibus una cum labello lineari-spathu- 
latis recurvo-patentibus. 
Canna gigantea, Repoutr’, Liliaceés, v. vi. t. 331.—Bot. Register, t. 206. 
Canna patens, Rosc. in Linn. Trans. v. viii. p. 338. 
This truly magnificent species throws up many stems from the same root, 
which reach to the height of from 6 to 8 feet, and are formed of the long 
_ sheathing bases of the leaves. The Jeaves themselves vary somewhat in 
form, and remarkably in size, upon different parts of the stem; the lower- a i 
most ones being two feet in length and petiolated; thence, as they pro- ; 
ceed upwards, they gradually become smaller and broader, so that the | 
_ uppermost leaves are almost cordate, and not above 6 inches long ; the | 
whole are of a most beautifully vivid green, with numerous persiiel trans- 
verse nerves springing from the central rib. 
The Jlowers, of four inches or more in length, are terminal, racemed, the 
main stalk concealed by two long sheathing bracteas, green, with a brown 
edge; the pedicels, which spring always in pairs, are likewise furnished 
with small ovate bracteas, which soon wither and fall off. 
Calys of 3 ovato-lanceolate, pale yellowish-green segments, having a purple 
spot at their base. Corolla almost wholly of one uniform scarlet colour, 
tubular, formed of a double limb, of which the outer one consists of 3 
lanceolate, erect, submembranaceous segments, with their margins invo- 
lute ; the intier one is divided into 3 linear spathulate segments, of which 
: two are nearly equal in size, the third (a lateral one) is much narrower 
and less spathulate, corresponding in shape with the labellum, which is 
oblique, and together with the three segments just described, recurvo- 
patent, entire, or occasionally a little jagged at the point. Stamen: fila- 
ment petaloid, broader than the Jabellum, revolute at the extremity, of the 
same colour as .the perianth, bearing the yellow anther on its margin, 
and. embracing with its base, the linear spathulate, truncate, viscid style, 
which is of the same colour as the rest of the flower. 
VOL. I. : M 
