Volume III (1980) - Flora of New Zealand Adventive Cyperaceous, Petalous & Spathaceous Monocotyledons
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Cannaceae Juss.

CANNACEAE

Tall, unbranched, leafy perennial rhizomatous herbs. Leaves cauline, large, broad, pinnately veined, midrib prominent, petiolate, sheathing below. Flowers bisexual, very zygomorphic, usually large and brightly coloured, in racemes or panicles, short-pedicelled, each bracteate. Perianth-segments 6 in 2 whorls; sepals3, free, small, usually green; petals 3, similar to sepals but longer, connate at base, Staminodia (3)-4-5, petaloid, very showy, ± connate at base, the inner occasionally connate above, 1 often recurved. Stamen 1, petaloid, free, with a 1-celled anther adnate to margin of petaloid filament. Ovary inferior, 3-locular; style and stigma petaloid; ovules many. Fruit a warted capsule. A single genus of tropical and subtropical America.

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