Canna 'Musaefolia'

Canna 'Musaefolia' cultivars belong to the Foliage Group of Cannas. In the first work devoted to Canna, "Le Canna" - authored by M. Chaté in 1867 with the co-operation of Monsieur Théodore Année, we were provided with the first written description and details of origin.Chaté, E. (1867). Le Canna, son histoire, sa culture. Libraire Centrale d'Agriculture et de Jardinage] The grouping consists of a specimen, that was accepted as a native species of Peru by the experts of the time, and at least 7 hybrids and cultivars carrying the species parentage. The species was unique because it was without rhizomes, and required to be kept constantly growing. No such species is known to exist in this age, and leading authorities treat C. "musaefolia" as a synonym of C. "paniculata".

ynonyms

* Canna 'Musafolia'
* Canna 'Musifolia'

Origin

Monsieur Chaté writes, "This species was formerly described in the English, Dutch, and German horticultural journals under the name of C. "excelsa". It was named "musæfolia" by Monsieur Théodore Année, who introduced it into France in 1858, from the resemblance of its leaves to those of the Musa or banana-tree. It reaches a height of more than convert|8|ft|m|abbr=on and has green, downy stems, and very large, oval, green leaves. Flowers small, orange-yellow. It is a tender species without rhizomes, and requires to be kept constantly growing. Peru."Robinson, W. (1879). The Subtropical Garden. John Murray, Albermarle St, London, England]

Nowadays, "Canna excelsa" is accepted as a synonym of C. "paniculata". However, all currently known Cannas have rhizomes or tubers.Tanaka, N. (2001). Taxonomic revision of the family Cannaceae in the New World and Asia, Makinoa ser. 2, 1:34–43.]

Hybrids

We do know that the early hybridizers, led by Monsieur Année, crossed the original import and produced cultivars, some of which still live on.

Canna 'Musaefolia Hybrida'

"Resembles C. 'Musaefolia', but the stems and leaves are thicker and of a deeper green."

A tall Foliage Group cultivar; dark green foliage, very large, broadly oblong shaped, maroon margin, spreading habit; oval stems, coloured green; flowers are upright, self-coloured salmon-red, staminodes are small, edges regular, style is red, petals purple with farina, fully self-cleaning; fertile both ways, not true to type, self-pollinating, capsules round; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured purple; tillering is prolific. Introduced by Théodore Année, Passy, France, EU in 1860. [http://www.clainescanna.co.uk/Canna_MusaefoliaHybrida.htm C. 'Musaefolia Hybrida' in Claines Canna Collection] ]

Canna 'Musaefolia Minima'

"Leaves of a whitish green, badly set. Flowers small, orange brown. No rootstocks. Introduced by Théodore Année, Passy, France, EU in 1860."

As all Canna grown today have rhizomes or tubers, this hybrid must now be considered to be extinct.

Canna 'Musaefolia Peruviana'

"Stems green and downy, 5 ft. to 6½ ft. high. Leaves very large, wide, green. Flowers small, orange. Rootstocks very small. Introduced by E. Chaté et fils, sentier Saint-Antoine, Saint-Mandé, Paris, France, EU. in 1862."

A tall Foliage Group cultivar; green foliage, very large, broadly oblong shaped, maroon margin, spreading habit; oval stems, coloured green; spikes of flowers are open, red-orange with orange-red spots, staminodes are medium size, edges regular, labellum is gold flecked, stamen is gold with orange markings, style is orange, petals yellow, fully self-cleaning; fertile both ways, not true to type, self-pollinating, capsules round; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured pink and purple; tillering is prolific. [http://www.clainescanna.co.uk/Canna_MusaefoliaPeruviana.htm C. 'Peruviana' in Claines Canna Collection] ]

This does not normally flower in northern climates, but if kept growing over the winter in a heated greenhouse or conservatory it will happily bloom either in late spring or late summer.

Canna 'Musaefolia Perfecta'

"Stems from 5 ft. to 6½ ft. high. Leaves broad, very firm, of a handsomish whiteish green. Flowers small, yellow. Roots fiberous, without rootstocks. Introduced by Théodore Année, Passy, France, EU in 1862."

The description above states that it is without rhizomes. No such Canna rhizome challenged cultivar currently exists and therefore this must be considered extinct.

Canna 'Musaefolia Rubra'

"Stems dark red, 6½ ft. high. Leaves dark purple-red, oval, very large. Flowers small, salmon-red. Rootstocks very tender, with fibrous roots. Introduced by Théodore Année, Passy, France, EU in 1862."

A tall Foliage Group cultivar; dark green foliage, very large, broadly oblong shaped, maroon margin, spreading habit; oval stems, coloured green; flowers are upright, self-coloured salmon-red, staminodes are small, edges regular, style is red, petals purple with farina, fully self-cleaning; fertile both ways, not true to type, self-pollinating, capsules round; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured purple; tillering is prolific. [http://www.clainescanna.co.uk/Canna_MusaefoliaRubra.htm Canna 'musaefolia Rubra' in Claines Canna Collection] ]

Canna 'Musaefolia Grande'

The original five musaefolia hybrids have been recently joined by this cultivar, which may be a synonym of one of the five above, or a new hybrid. It is regarded by many enthusiasts as a magnificent specimen and is becoming increasingly popular.

A giant Foliage Group cultivar; green and purple variegated foliage, large, oval shaped, maroon margin, branching habit; half-round stems, coloured green + purple; spikes of flowers are upright, self-coloured orange-red, staminodes are long and narrow, fully self-cleaning; fertile both ways, not true to type, self-pollinating, capsules globose; rhizomes are thick, up to 7 cm in diameter, coloured purple; tillering is prolific. Introduced by Herb Kelly, USA, from Venezuala. [http://www.clainescanna.co.uk/Canna_MusaefoliaGrande.htm C. 'Musaefolia Grande' in Claines Canna Collection] ]

The earliest reference to this is the catalogue of Kelly's Plant World, California, USA. 1989.

References

Recommended reading

# cite book
last = Chaté
first = E.
authorlink = E. Chateé fils, Horticulteur
title = Le Canna, son histoire, sa culture
publisher = Libraire Centrale d'Agriculture et de Jardinage
year = 1867
# Tanaka, N. (2001). Taxonomic revision of the family Cannaceae in the New World and Asia. Makinoa ser. 2, 1:34–43.
# cite book
last = Robinson
first = W.
title = The Subtropical Garden
publisher = John Murray, Albermarle St, London, England.
year = 1879

External links

* [http://www.clainescanna.co.uk/ Claines Canna Collection]
* [http://cannanews.blogspot.com/2007/05/canna-musaefolia-complex-unravelled.html Canna News: Musaefolia complex unravelled]
* [http://cannanews.blogspot.com/2007/05/musaefolia-peruviana-genetic-volcano.html Canna News: Musaefolia Peruviana, genetic volcano!]
* [http://cannanews.blogspot.com/2007/12/wot-no-rhizomes.html Canna News: Wot, no rhizomes?]

ee also

* Canna
* List of Canna species
* List of Canna cultivars
* List of Canna hybridists