African arrowroot
Canna indica L.
Canna indica L., a species in the Cannaceae family, is commonly known as African arrowroot. Native to the Americas, it is naturalized in various regions including Açores, Madeira, Brazil, and parts of Africa and Asia. The plant is valued for its edible rhizomes, which serve as a source of starch. First described in 1753, its type specimen was later revised by Maas.
Description
Canna indica L. is a member of the Cannaceae family and is widely known as African arrowroot. It is native to the Americas and has been introduced to and naturalized in regions such as Açores, Madeira, Brazil, and several African and Asian countries. The plant's rhizomes are edible and used as a source of starch. Originally described in 1753, the type specimen was initially cited as Herb. Linn. 1.1, but this was later deemed ineligible due to being a post-1753 addition. Maas later provided a revised type designation.
Other common names
Indian shotAfrican arrowrootIndian-shotQueensland arrowrootpurple arrowrootSierra Leone arrowrootedible cannaCannon
Distribution
Açores · Madeira · BR · Corvo Island · Faial Island · Flores Island · Graciosa Island · Pico Island · Santa Maria Island · São Jorge Island · São Miguel Island · Terceira Island · Madeira Island · Cuenca río Amoyá: Maíto, Chaparral (763 msnm) · Parque Nacional Natural Cahuinarí | Santuario de Flora y Fauna Guanentá Alto Río Fonce Vía Parque Isla de Salamanca | Parque Nacional Natural Los Katíos · TR · TW · VU · ZA · SC · HR · CU · CK · NU · AS · Kosrae · Yap · Pitcairn Islands · WS · PW
Synonyms
Canna achirasCanna altensteiniiCanna amabilisCanna aurantiacaCanna aureovittataCanna barbadicaCanna bidentataCanna bifidaCanna brasiliensisCanna carneaCanna cearensisCanna chinensisCanna cinnabarinaCanna coccineaCanna coccinea var. bicolorCanna commutataCanna compactaCanna concinnaCanna croceaCanna densifoliaCanna discolorCanna discolor var. rubripunctataCanna discolor var. viridifoliaCanna edulisCanna ehrenbergiiCanna elegansCanna ellipticifoliaCanna esculentaCanna exiguaCanna eximia
