Canna indica

L. (1753)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Monocots Order: Zingiberales Family: Cannaceae Genus: Canna

ali‘ipoe [aliipoe], canna, Indian shot

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Perennial herbs from tuberous rhizomes.

Stems: Stems 8–15 dm long.

Roots: Fibrous root system.

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate, 2-ranked. Blades oblong or oblong–elliptic, leaves 30–60 cm long, 15–25 cm wide. Apex abruptly long-acuminate. Base gradually tapering to the sheathing base. Surfaces glabrous. Margins entire. Mand numerous pinnate–parallel lateral veins. Petioles very short or essentially absent. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in inflorescences 1 per aerial shoot, terminal on leafy shoot, pedunculate racemes or panicles of flowers or of 2–flowered monochasial cymes (cincinni); bracts of main axis subtending flowers or cincinni. flowers in thyrses, bracts of the inflorescences lanceolate, 10–15 cm long, apex boat–shaped, bracts of the flowers whitish, membranous, 10–18 mm long. Flowers bisexual (perfect), conspicuous, irregular, obliquely oriented to the axis, in 2–flowered cymes, these grouped into terminal thyrses or branched thyrses in the axils of the principal bracts. Calyx of 3 sepals; sepals whitish, membranous, oblong–lanceolate, 8–12 mm long. Petals pale yellow, sometimes tinged pink or red, erect, lanceolate, 30–40 mm long. Staminodes 3, conspicuous, dark red or yellow and then sometimes with red streaks, erect, narrowly oblanceolate, 40–50 mm long, the inner one fertile and slightly smaller; labellum orange with red spots and streaks, narrower than other staminodes and somewhat asymmetrical. Ovary inferior, 3-carpellate, with as many cells, placentation axile; ovules usually numerous per cell, anatropous; style petaloid; stigma papillate, wet.

Fruit: Capsules ellipsoid; ca. 2.2–3 cm long; the surface warty; the warts deciduous. Seeds very dark brown to black; very hard; globose; ca. 5–7 mm in diameter.

Ploidy: 2n = 18; 27

Habitat: Naturalized primarily in disturbed mesic to wet forest.

Elevation Range: 10–610 m.

Historical Distribution

Synonyms (160)

Uses and Culture

USES

  • Often cultivated; black seeds made for lei, used to make ‘uli‘uli (rattles) in hula (Emerson 1909:107). Apparently brough to Hawai‘i as a commercial starch crop (Wagner et al. 1990:1376).

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Water/Ocean
Birds

Vegetative Reproduction

Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Sp. Pl.: 1 (1753)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1375 (K, O, Mo, L, M, H); Staples & Herbst 2005:645 (DESCR); Herbst 4038 BISH (L†, 1974)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Canna indica abandoned garden next to Lumihuli Stream and on hula platform In an abandoned garden. Preserved_Specimen Corn, C. Kauai BISH 1978-06-15
2 Canna indica Volcano House In shade, in moist crack. Preserved_Specimen Herb 4-5' high; red flowers. Fagerlund, G.O. 673 Hawaii BISH 1943-07-15
3 Canna indica Waimea Arboretum Preserved_Specimen To approx. 2.5'; inflor. axis green; sepals light green; petals yellow & red; staminodes red; labellum & petaloid appendage red & yellow; style mostly yellow; ovary green. Kirchoff, B.K. 88176 Oahu BISH 1988-05-30
4 Canna indica Waimea District. Kokee. Stream drainage to northwest of Boy Scout Camp. Disturbed Diverse Mesic Forest with Metrosideros, Acacia koa, Planchonella, Polysccias kavaiensis, Pscyhotria, Charpentiera, Melicope, Kadua affinis, Chrysodracon aurea, Xylosma hawaiiense, Dodonea viscosa, Rubus rosifolius. Common in gulch bottom. Preserved_Specimen Flower yellow. Leaves with small dark native-looking snails. Base of stem white with pink. Stem shinny white lower and darkeer above. Leaves dark green above, light green with green paralllel venation. Flower yellow with papery brown bract, fruit. Tangalin, N. 3690 Kauai BISH 2014-02-20
5 Canna indica Lihue District. The College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources farm up Kuamoo Road, Wailua. Growing as a weed in garden plot. Common where soil is disturbed. Forming a dense patch in a garden bed after the soil had been turned. Preserved_Specimen Erect herb growing in clusters, leaves matte, flowers light orange with red patterning. Flowers and leaves odorless. Leaves quickly bruising and turning brown where folded and handled during collection. Brock, K. 713 Kauai BISH 2015-09-10
6 Canna indica Wailua Homesteads, Nounou Trail Kuamoo entrance, along the stream near the bridge. Invaded riparian corridor W/ Megathyrsus maximus, Sphagnetiocola triloba, Ipomoea ochracea, Citharexylum caudatum, Persea americana, Psidium cattleianum. Macroptilium, Costus, Philodendron rubrum, Epipremnum pinnatum, Ardisia Preserved_Specimen Next to stream in an area that is inundated when water is high. Light green oblong 3-parted fruit bumpy. Lvs dk green above, lighter green and cup-shaped at base on newer leaves. Flws bright red, lip yellow-orange with red spots. Tangalin, N. 5167 Kauai BISH 2021-04-16
7 Canna indica Waimea Arboretum In partial shade. Preserved_Specimen Plant w/erect stems 1-1½ m tall arising from underground stems; flwrs creamy yellow with staminodes having additional orange spots & streaks, odorless (afternoon). Lau, J. 2452 Oahu BISH 1986-05-19
8 Canna indica Waimea Arboretum Partially shaded bed. Preserved_Specimen Stems etect, 1 to 1.5 m tall, arising from underground stems. Flwrs brick red, odorless (morning). Lau, J. 2451 Oahu BISH 1986-05-19
9 Canna indica East Maui, Honomanu Edge of shaded, wet forest area. Preserved_Specimen Common herb ca. 5½ ft. tall w/small yellow flowers. Herbst, D.R. 846 Maui BISH 1968-01-02
10 Canna indica Lanaihale, along forestry side road near beginning of Munro Trail Preserved_Specimen Flowers yellow. Herbst, D.R. 4038 Lanai BISH 1974-06-12
11 Canna indica Mauna Lua; Hahaione Valley, Bishop Estate Farm Preserved_Specimen 10 ft. tall. St.John, H. 10122 Oahu BISH 1929-12-14
12 Canna indica Waianae Mts.; Puu Kaua Ridge, Honouliuli Moist grassy slope. Preserved_Specimen Baker, R.J. Oahu BISH 1932-11-06
13 Canna indica Waimea Arboretum Preserved_Specimen To approx. 5'; leaves green, lighter along main veins; margin of sheaths of largest bracts slightly red; florescence bracts green, drying at margins by time of anthesis; sepals green streaked w/red; petals yellow & pink with no clear pattern; two Staminodes red; labellum & petaloid appendage to anther recurved, red apically, yellow spotted w/red at base; style orange becoming dark red apically. Kirchoff, B.K. 88156 Oahu BISH 1988-05-29
14 Canna indica Honolulu: Manoa Valley; Lyon Arboretum Preserved_Specimen 4 to 5 ft.high; flwrs small, single, yellow w/red spotting on petals. Nagata, K.M. 521 Oahu BISH 1968-12-19
15 Canna indica unknown Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 1029 BISH
16 Canna indica Waimea Arboretum Preserved_Specimen To approx. 3'4; leaves green w/some red at top & upper margins of sheaths; margins of larger bracts red; florescence bracts red, glaucous - most deeply red; staminodes orange, lighter on interior, darker on exterior; style orange, becoming red at apex; 2 flowers developing per cincinnus. Kirchoff, B.K. 88151 Oahu BISH 1988-05-29
17 Canna indica Waimea Arboretum Preserved_Specimen To approx. 3' incl. inflor.; leaf, incl. sheath, green; inflor. axis green; sepals light green; petals pale yellow; staminodes 2, orangish-yellow w/red dots on both surfaces; labellum yellow streaked w/red on adaxial surface; petaloid appendage as labellum; style orangish-yellow, lighter distally; ovary green. Kirchoff, B.K. 88168 Oahu BISH 1988-05-30
18 Canna indica Waimea Arboretum Preserved_Specimen Approx. 3.5'including inflor.; leaves & sheaths green, inflor. axis green; sepals green, petals yellow becoming reddish at tips; staminodes 3, orange-red' labellum orangish-red distally, yellow dotted w/red proximally; petaloid appendage yellow. w/abundant fine red streaks, orangish-red at tip; style yellow w/blush of red; ovary green. Kirchoff, B.K. 88169 Oahu BISH 1988-05-30
19 Canna indica Waimea Arboretum Preserved_Specimen Approx. 2'; leaf sheath maroon streaked w/green, maroon band at margin of blade, midrib maroon; sepals maroon; petals maroon streaked w/pink; staminodes maroon; labellum maroon distally, pale yellow streaked & dotted w/maroon proximally; petaloid appendage as labellum but w/less yellow; style red to maroon; fruit maroon. ovary green. Kirchoff, B.K. 88164 Oahu BISH 1988-05-30
20 Canna indica Waimea Arboretum Preserved_Specimen To approx. 3' incl. inflor.; leaf blade & sheath green; inflor. axis green; sepals light green streaked w/some pink; petals red, becoming green distally; staminodes 2, red; labellum red w/yellow along medial line, becoming white proximally; petaloid appendage red & yellow, the yellow portion dottedw/red; style yellow streaked w/red; ovary green. Kirchoff, B.K. 88172 Oahu BISH 1988-05-30
21 Canna indica Waimea Arboretum Preserved_Specimen To approx. 5'; leaves green, lighter along major veins; slightly reddish margin to firest large bract on inflor; florescence bracts green streaked w/light red, appearing as if dry even when inflor. has just emerged; sepals pink, red along veins; petals lighter than sepals but with some yellow especially at base; labellum recurved, red at tip, yellow dotted & streaked w/red; petaloid appendage colored as labellum, also recurved; style streaked w/red & yellow-red at margins, yellow at center. Kirchoff, B.K. 88155 Oahu BISH 1988-05-29
22 Canna indica Honolulu: Kalihi; Bishop Museum, Dormitory D Preserved_Specimen Clumping plant spreading by underground stems. Up to 1.5 m tall. Staminodes canary yellow to orange w/scarlet or crimson streaks & spots; cream at base. Lau, J. 1647 Oahu BISH 1985-11-18
23 Canna indica Waimea Arboretum Preserved_Specimen Approx. 4.5'; leaves green, lighter along principal veins; bracts green becoming transparent at the margins; sepals pink w/some green at midrib; petals orange below becoming pink above; floral tube pale green, staminodes & labellum orangish-pink; style w/some yellow on one margin. Kirchoff, B.K. 88160 Oahu BISH 1988-05-29
24 Canna indica Waimea Arboretum Preserved_Specimen To approx. 3'; lvs & sheaths green; ovary green w/some red; inflor. axis green or red, or streaked green & red; sepals green w/some red streaks; petals red w/some green streaks, pale green at tips; staminodes red; labellum red distally, white proximally, dotted & streaked w/red; petaloid appendage aslabellum but yellowish-green instead of white; style orange. Kirchoff, B.K. 88166 Oahu BISH 1988-05-30
25 Canna indica Waimea Arboretum Preserved_Specimen Approx. 4'; leaves green w/lighter streaks along some major veins; flower identical to Waimea Acc. #86s486 (Canna flaccida), but w/less conspicuous red markings. Kirchoff, B.K. 88153 Oahu BISH 1988-05-29
26 Canna indica Waimea Arboretum Preserved_Specimen To approx. 4.5'; blade green w/maroon margin; sheath & midrib of leaf maroon or green streaked w/maroon; inflor. axis maroon; sepals maroon, glaucous; petals maroon; staminodes 2 red; petaloid appendage as labellum but yellow proximally; style red becoming maroon distally; ovary maroon.. Kirchoff, B.K. 88167 Oahu BISH 1988-05-30
27 Canna indica Waianae Dist.; Upper Waianae Valley, near old homestead Moist region. Preserved_Specimen Baker, R.J. Oahu BISH 1933-03-12
28 Canna indica Waimea Arboretum Preserved_Specimen To approx. 3'; leaves & sheaths green; ovary maroon; sepals green streaked w/red; inflor. axis red/maroon; petals maroon below, pink above; staminodes 2, pink; labellum orangish above, red in mid-region, streaked w/yellowish white below; petaloid appendage as labellum but w/less white; style red, darker distally. Kirchoff, B.K. 88165 Oahu BISH 1988-05-30
29 Canna indica Waimea Arboretum Preserved_Specimen Approx. 4.5'; leaves green with no noticeable red; sepals green; petals yellow-green; staminodes yellow flecked w/red, more prominent markings on adaxial side; petaloid appendage to stamen marked w/red only on side facing the style; style yellow. Kirchoff, B.K. 88152 Oahu BISH 1988-05-29
30 Canna indica [Hawaiian Islands; U.S.A.; O`ahu; Hawai`i; Honolulu] Preserved_Specimen Turner, M. 7 Oahu BISH
31 Canna indica Pauoa Valley Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1307 Oahu BISH 1909-04-16
32 Canna indica Kahana Bay Preserved_Specimen Vea, S. 10465 Oahu BISH 1977-03-12
33 Canna indica East Maui, Kaapahu Parce above roadside under Lama at Alaele rivermouth Preserved_Specimen Welton, P. 2196 Maui BISH 2004-08-13
34 Canna indica unknown Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 1027 BISH
35 Canna indica Mahana Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 447 Lanai BISH 1929-08-12
36 Canna indica Pauoa Valley Preserved_Specimen Oahu BISH 2009-04-16
37 Canna indica Pauoa, Tantalus Trail Preserved_Specimen Garber, D.W. 410 Oahu BISH 1920-05-02
38 Canna indica Pauoa Valley Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. Oahu BISH 1909-04-16
39 Canna indica Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Mann, H. Oahu BISH 1864-01-01
40 Canna indica Kaiholena Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 213 Lanai BISH 1913-11-12
41 Canna indica Laie Preserved_Specimen Guinto, J. 23 Oahu BISH 1986-03-15
42 Canna indica Pauoa-Tantalus Trail Preserved_Specimen Garber, D.W. 410 Oahu BISH 1920-05-02
43 Canna indica Waikane Valley Preserved_Specimen White, P.T. 15 Oahu BISH 1977-01-30
44 Canna indica Kaiholena Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 307 Lanai BISH 1914-02-01
45 Canna indica Hilo; Rainbow Falls Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 518 Hawaii BISH 1915-05-16
46 Canna indica abandoned garden next to Lumihuli Stream and on hula platform In an abandoned garden. Preserved_Specimen Corn, C. Kauai BISH 1978-06-15
47 Canna indica Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park; along coastal & inland trail Predominantly exotic vegetation. Preserved_Specimen Higashino, P.K. 10323 Hawaii BISH 1984-04-08
48 Canna indica Kokee. St ream drainage to NW of Boy Scout Camp Open-canopied area of mixed mesic forest. Metrosideros, Acacia koa, Pouteria, Psychotria, Melicope spp., Pleomele aurea, Xylosma hawaiiense, Dodonaea viscosa, Rubub rosifolius, Melinis minutiflora, Corynocarpus, Cirsium vulgare. Preserved_Specimen Herb, 2 m tall with yellow fls. arising from tuberous roots. Naturalized with sevedral patches along moist valley floor. Trauernicht, C. 652 Kauai BISH 2008-12-08
49 Canna indica Waipahu Cultural Gardens, 94-695 Waipahu St In partial shade. Preserved_Specimen Several erect stems up to 1.5 m tall forming a tight clump. Flwrs crimson, odorless (morning). All vegetative parts of plant have beet red pigmentation. Lau, J. 2124 Oahu BISH 1986-03-10
50 Canna indica Kalaupapa; Waikolu valley, base of stream open Preserved_Specimen erect perennial herb Wysong, M.L. 559 Molokai BISH 2005-01-04
51 Canna indica Koele Naturalized in pasture. Observed as weed in pineapple fields Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 28511 Lanai BISH 1963-07-30
52 Canna indica Kahuku; Kahuku High School Clay loam. Preserved_Specimen Lily w/small inconspicuous flowers. Afualo, D. 153 Oahu BISH 1975-04-04
53 Canna indica Koloa District. National Tropical Botanical Garden in Lawai Valley, McBryde Garden, Big Valley, Canoe Garden area, east side of Lawai Stream near crossover. Cultivated area with Curcuma longa. Preserved_Specimen Rhizomatous perennial herb forming clump, pseudostems to 1 m tall, stems, petioles & leaf margin dark burgandy tinged. Inflorescence axis & bracts glaucous, tepals bright red. Capsules red tinged, maturing brown & splitting, seeds black. Lorence, D.H. 10692 Kauai BISH 2017-04-20
54 Canna indica Lawai Valley; PTBG Common along Lawai Stream. Preserved_Specimen Flowers pale yellow. Flynn, T.W. 729 Kauai BISH 1984-01-05
55 Canna indica Kahana Bay Sandy loam; shaded. Preserved_Specimen Loyd, L. 10 Oahu BISH 1977-02-12
56 Canna indica Keaukaha, off Kamokuna Rd., near Onekahaka Park In shade of Mangifera, Terminalia, Psidium & assoc. w/Paederia. Preserved_Specimen Leaves ovate-oblong, to 20 long; flwrs small, yellow; frt containing black, smooth seeds, 5-7 mm in diam. Ishikawa, S. 212 Hawaii BISH 1973-01-12
57 Canna indica Hanalei River Valley; 1.5 miles E of Hanalei Along highway; assoc. w/Clerodendrum, Hibiscus tiliaceus & grasses. Preserved_Specimen Sepals green, stamens yellow. Ishikawa, S. 245 Kauai BISH 1973-04-14
58 Canna indica Honolulu, Manoa Cliff Trail Wet mixed native and alien forest. Preserved_Specimen Naturalized herb 1.5 m ht, seed pods present. Kennedy, B. 35 Oahu BISH 1996-01-13
59 Canna indica Manoa Valley, guava zone Common wayside plant. Preserved_Specimen Flwrs small, bright red. Egler, F.E. 37175 Oahu BISH 1937-05-10