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Brilliant blooms

The colourful canna will make you feel it's spring round the year in your garden

CANNA INDICA A sunbird is seen sucking the nectar from the corolla

The dazzling radiance of Canna flowers is such that you may not notice the sparkle of a sunbird sucking the nectar at the bottom of a tubular corolla. The splendour of the blooms on the hip-high, erect un-branched stems of the perennial herb, with large lanceolate, oblong, ovate penninerved leaves, is not uncommon.

Canna can be found growing along the sides of walls, lawn borders and in rows dividing flower beds. On the banks of irrigation canals, they spread naturally, being clump forming with tuber-like rhizomes. The plants are not over demanding in terms of soil conditions. Any well-drained, humus-rich soil — the plant can tolerate clayey soil — is suitable, while a sunny site on the southern side of your house is preferred. The hard, echinate seeds are borne in three-celled capsules.

Canna is the only genus of the family Cannaceae of tropical American origin. The genus has 55 species. Canna indica syn Orientalis is the common Canna. Canna edulis, Canna hydride and Canna generalize are other popular garden species, the flowers being orange, red, yellow or bi- coloured.

The names of the cultivars Bonfire, Brilliant, Iridipolia, Verdi and Lucifer suggest the flamboyance and fiery brilliance of the flowers. The flowers are terminal spikes, with sub equal sepals, one small petaloid and three petals of corolla, tubular below.

Cannas are called "Kal Vazhai" in Tamil as the leaves resemble plantain leaves. The origin of the name Canna is from the Greek word Kanna, meaning `reed', referring to the reed-like stems without branches. Canna produces profuse shoots all around.

When the leaves develop fully, separate them into single shoots, each with a piece of rhizome and plant them in the ground or in pots. To attract birds, place a bird bath, an 18-inch plastic bowl filled with fresh water will suffice.

J. MANGALARAJ JOHNSON

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