248 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Sxpr., 1897, 
This is the variety of arrowroot produced in Queensland. It is in all 
respects as valuable and nutritious as the Maranta arrowroot, only a little 
darker. Under the microscope it is very distinctive in character. The 
granules are very large, exceeding in size those of all other known starches. 
Maranta arrowroot only is recognised under the Food and Drugs Act of 
Great Britain, and last year a dealer at Ashford, in Kent, was prosecuted for 
having sold Queensland arrowroot instead. The case was dismissed on the 
ground that there was no ‘intention to defraud, but the fact was pretty well 
established that Queensland arrowroot could only be sold in England under the 
‘distinctive name of Queensland arrowroot. 4 ; 
Efforts have been made to induce the cultivation of the Maranta plant 
instead of the Canna edulis for the production of arrowroot in Queensland. It 
is contended that.as a food product the Tous-les-mois is equal to or more 
valuable than the others, and the yield of farina is very much greater per acre. 
Again, the Maranta roots much deeper than the Canna edulis, consequently 
requires deeper and more expensive cultivation. For the same reason it is 
much more expensive to harvest. 
The species of Canna resemble each other very closely in all particulars, 
and much confusion has arisen from the same name having been given by 
different authorities to different species; while the same species has been 
furnished with a number of varying names. 
There are four well-marked sections or sub-genera distinguished by the 
length of the corolla-tube and the characters furnished by the staminodia ot 
petal-like stamens. These are called— 
1, Hucanna or true Cannas. 
2. Distemon. 
3. Kurystylus. 
4. Achiridia. 
In the Zucanna the corolla lobes and the staminodia unite in a short tube 
at the base, two or three of the upper staminodia being developed. 
There are nineteen species—l, indica; 2, orientalis; 3, flavescens; 4, 
coccinea ; 5, latifolia ; 6, heliconiefolia ; 7, pedunculata ; 8, Lamberti; 9, edulis ; 
10, Hinlelmanni ; 11, glauca ; 12, compacta; 13, lutew; 14, variabilis; 15, 
lanuginosa ; 16, Warscewiczii ; 17, polyclada ; 18, speciosa ; 19, discolor. Of 
these indica, glauca, and Warscewiczii have been most used in the production 
of the garden varieties of to-day, the last haying a great influence in the 
brown and red leaved varieties. 
In the sub-genus Distemon the corolla-tube is short and the upper 
staminodia suppressed. 
There is one species, C. paniculata, but it is not worth cultivating except 
as a botanical curiosity. 
In the sub-genus Hurystylus the corolla-tube is long, and the upper 
staminodia three. There is one species, C. flaccida, a native of the swamps of 
the Southern United States. It has been much used in hybridising. 
In the sub-genus Achiridia the tube of the corolla and the staminodia is 
very long, and the flowers very large and pendulous. here are two species— 
tridiflora and lilitflora. ‘The first is a native of the Andes, and was introduced 
by Lambert into Europe in 1816. It has been a very large factor in the 
production of the garden varieties, and is the most gorgeous plantin the genus. 
It grows to a height of 10 feet, and has a pinicle composed of several 
- corymbs of drooping rose, crimson flowers 5 or 6 inches long. ; 
All these species readily hybridise with each other. 
From about 1830 to 1860 attention was given to Cannas chiefly as foliage 
plants, and cultivation and hybridisation was carried on with this purpose in 
view. Plants for decorative purposes were grown up to 10 or 12 feet high 
with broad leaves, ranging from tender green through all shades to red 
and purple. Only hybrids of the true Cannas or sub-genus Hucanna were 
produced. ; 
