Cannaceae

Genera : 1 Species: 30 - 55     To Genus Directories: Canna

Distribution: In the subtropical regions of North and Central America and in the West Indies.

Economic Uses: As ornamentals and as the source of arrow root starch, grown commercially in Asia, Australia and the Pacific regions and preferred for its easy digestibility. The plant is also used medicinally in some regions.

Defining Features of Interest: The diverse morphology among species has caused some difficulty in classification at the species level. At the family level, the Cannaceae differs from the Zingiberaceae in lacking ligules that sheath the stem at the base of the leaf.

Fossil Evidence: Fossils in the Eocene.

Defining Morphology

Floral Features : Zygomorphic and perfect. Inflorescence of large flowers in a panicle or raceme. Each flower subtended by a bract. Epigynous.

Fruit and Seed Features : Fruit a capsule with persistent sepals. Seed s without an aril and endosperm present. Placentation is axile.

Vegetative Features : Habit is as perennial herbs with a tuberous rhizome. Leaves a re simple, entire and alternate/spirally arranged. Bases sheathing the petiole and ligules lacking.