Chap. XCIIII.
Canna Indica.
The Indian flowring Reede.
There are two kindes or sorts of this beautifull plant, the one with a red flower, the other with a yellow, spotted with reddish spots, both which in some kindly yeares haue borne their braue flowers, but neuer any ripe seede, and doth not abide the extremities of our winters, eyther abroade or vnder couert, vnlesse it meete with a stoue or hot-house, such as are vsed in Germany, or such other like place: For neyther house nor cellar will preserue it, for want of heate.
Canna Indica flore rubro. Red flowred Indian Reede.
This beautifull plant riseth vp with faire greene, large, broade leaues, euery one rising out of the middle of the other, and are folded together, or writhed like vnto a paper Coffin (as they call it) such as Comfitmakers and Grocers vse, to put in their Comfits and Spices, and being spread open, another riseth from the bottome thereof, folded in the same manner, which are set at the ioynts of the stalke when it is risen vp, like vnto our water Reede, and growing (if it runne vp for flower) to be three or foure foote high, as I haue obserued in mine owne garden: the flowers grow at the toppe of the stalke one aboue another, which before their opening are long, small, round, and pointed at the end, very like vnto the claw of a Crauise or Sea-Crab, and of the same red or crimson colour, but being open, are very like vnto the flower of Gladiolus or Corne-flagge, but of a more orient colour then at the first, and standing in a rough huske, wherein afterwards standeth a three square head, containing therein round blacke seede, of the bignesse of a pease: the roote is white and tuberous, growing into many knobs, from whence arise such other leaues and stalkes, whereby it encreaseth very much, if it be rightly kept and defended.
Canna Indica flore flauo punctato. Yellow spotted Indian Reede.
This Reede groweth vp with leaues and flowers, in all points so like vnto the former, that it cannot bee knowne from it, vntill it come to flower, which is of a yellow colour, spotted with reddish spots, without any other difference.
The Place.
These plants grow naturally in the West Indies, from whence they were first sent into Spaine, and Portugall, where Clusius saith he saw them planted by the houses sides, flowring in winter, which might be in those warme Countreyes. We preserue them with great care in our gardens, for the beautifull aspect of their flowers.
The Time.
They flower not with vs vntill the end, or middle of August, at the soonest.
The Names.
They are called of some Canna Indica, and Arundo Indica, of others Cannacorus, and of some Flos Cancri, because the colour of the flowers, as well as the forme of the buds, are so like vnto a Sea-Crabs cle, or claw.
The Vertues.
There is not any vse of these in Physicke that I know.