Plant · GBIF taxon 8034409
Indian shot
Canna indicaAlso known as African Arrowroot, Edible Canna, Purple Arrowroot, Sierra Leone Arrowroot
Indian shot produces vibrant scarlet to orange flowers supported by broad, banana-like tropical leaves. Seed pods mature into dry, warty capsules that split open to reveal hard, marble-like black seeds historically used as shotgun pellets and rosary beads. Native to the tropical Americas, it spreads vigorously via fleshy subterranean rhizomes that allow it to thrive in wet, sunny habitats worldwide.
TropicalFloweringRhizomatous
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
- Grasshoppers
- Slugs
- Canna Leaf Rollers
ThreatsHabitat loss in native range, though invasive in some naturalized regions
HabitatsWetlands, stream banks, tropical garden borders, moist disturbed soils
Life spanPerennial
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderZingiberales
- FamilyCannaceae
- GenusCanna
- SpeciesCanna indica
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Garden Care: Plant in full sun with abundant moisture to encourage continuous blooms.
- Observation: Watch for hummingbirds visiting the tubular red blossoms for nectar.
Ecological Counterpart no rights reserved, uploaded by Carlos Bolaños · cc0
Close Relative (c) Jake Gross, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Jake Gross · cc-by-sa
Order Relative (c) Ong Jyh Seng, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Ong Jyh Seng · cc-by-sa
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.