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Canna edulis
  • Achira

a perennial member of the Canna genus in the family Cannaceae.

Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • very acid,acid,neutral,alkaline,very alkaline
    Very acid to Very alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 8
    Zone 8
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Canna edulis has 0 edible uses listed
Canna edulis has 0 material uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Root - raw or cooked[1][2][3]. It is the source of 'canna starch' which is used as an arrowroot[4][5][6][7]. The arrowroot is obtained by rasping the root to a pulp, then washing and straining to get rid of the fibres[1]. This starch is very digestible[3]. The very young tubers can also be eaten cooked[8][9][10][11], they are sweet but fibrousy[97, K]. The root can be very large, sometimes as long as a person's forearm[3]. In Peru the roots are baked for up to 12 hours by which time they become a white, translucent, fibrous and somewhat mucilaginous mass with a sweetish taste[7][3]. The starch is in very large grains, about three times the size of potato starch grains, and can be seen with the naked eye[7][3]. This starch is easily separated from the fibre of the root[3]. The roots contain about 25% starch[8]. The dry matter contains about 75 - 80% starch, 6 - 14% sugar, 1 - 3% protein, it is high in potassium, low in calcium and phosphorus[3].

Young shoots - cooked and eaten as a green vegetable[7][3]. Quite nutritious, containing at least 10% protein[3].

The immature seeds are cooked in fat tortillas[7].

Leaves

Unknown use

Root

Unknown use

Seed

Unknown use

Material uses

The starch from the roots is sometimes used as a laundry starch or for sizing[3].

Unknown part

Size
Starch

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

There are no medicinal uses listed for Canna edulis.

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - pre-soak for 24 hours in warm water and sow February/March in a warm greenhouse at 20°c[4][12]. Plant the seeds 2 - 5cm deep in individual pots[4]. Scarifying the seed can speed germination, especially if the seed has not swollen after being soaked[124, K]. The seed usually germinates in 3 - 9 weeks[12]. Grow the plants on in a greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.

Division of the root clump as the plant comes into growth in the spring. Each portion must have at least one growing point. Pot up the divisions and grow them on in the greenhouse until they are well established and then plant them out in the summer.

Root cuttings.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Canna edulis. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Requires a deep rich well-drained soil in a sunny position[4][13]. Tolerates heavy soils[3]. The plant has large leaves and dislikes windy conditions since this can tear the leaves to shreds[13]. Requires ample water in the growing season[3]. Tolerates a pH range from 4.5 to 8[3].

This species is probably hardy in the mildest areas of Britain but even then it should be given a good mulch if left in the ground overwinter[4]. The top growth tolerates light frosts and plants can be grown in areas with winter snow[3]. The tubers can be harvested in late autumn after the top growth has been killed back by frost and stored over winter. They should be kept in a frost-free place covered in moist soil or leaves[4]. According to some botanists this species is no more than a synonym for C. indica[13]. Cultivated for its edible root in the Tropics, there are some named varieties[5][3]. The root can be harvested within 6 months from planting out, though larger yields are obtained after 8 - 10 months[3]. In the British climate this probably means 2 years growth is required for good yields[K]. Yields in the Andes range from 13 - 85 tonnes per hectare, with 22 - 50 tonnes being average[3]. Plants are rarely troubled by pests or diseases[3]. Most cultivated forms do not produce fertile seed[3]. There are also sterile triploid forms, these contain a significantly higher proportion of starch though their cropping potential is not known[3].

Slugs love the young growth in spring and can cause serious damage to plants[14].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Canna edulis. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Canna edulis.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Canna edulis
Genus
Canna
Family
Cannaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]
Medicinal uses
Material uses & Functions
[3]
Botanic
[4][13]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
8
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    3 x 1 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    ?
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite











    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.2 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.1 Sholto-Douglas. J. Alternative Foods. ()
    3. ? 3.003.013.023.033.043.053.063.073.083.093.103.113.123.133.143.153.163.173.183.193.203.21 Popenoe. H. et al Lost Crops of the Incas National Academy Press ISBN 0-309-04264-X (1990-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.34.44.54.64.7 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.2 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.1 Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press (1952-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.17.27.37.47.5 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.18.2 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.1 Brouk. B. Plants Consumed by Man. Academic Press ISBN 0-12-136450-x (1975-00-00)
    11. ? 11.011.1 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
    12. ? 12.012.1 Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan. (1989-00-00)
    13. ? 13.013.113.213.3 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    14. ? Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. ISBN 0 460 86048 8 (1990-00-00)

    Cite error: <ref> tag with name "PFAFimport-97" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.


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    Facts about "Canna edulis"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyCannaceae +
    Belongs to genusCanna +
    Has common nameAchira +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partLeaves +, Root + and Seeds +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone8 +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useSize + and Starch +
    Has mature height3 +
    Has mature width1 +
    Has search namecanna edulis + and x +
    Has shade toleranceNo shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceVery acid +, Acid +, Neutral +, Alkaline + and Very alkaline +
    Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameCanna edulis +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +