Title:

Maraca, Wild canna

Authors:

Nilda González Toro, José A. García Luiña

Scientific Name:

Canna indica L., Canna coccinea Mill.

Description:

Planta erecta delgada de 6 pies de alto, flores rojas en racimos terminales, frutos en cápsulas y semillas negras en el interior. De los rizomas triturados se obtiene un almidón usado como suplemento nutritivo. Las hojas y raíces tienen propiedades diuréticas y para regular la menstruación. Crece espontánea en riberas de ríos y bosques húmedos de Puerto Rico. Está distribuida en las Indias Occidentales, América Central, América del Sur, Asia y África. Thin and straight plant that grows to six feet in height. It has red flowers in terminal racemes, encapsulated fruits with black seeds inside. From its triturated rhizomes, a cottony substance is obtained and used as nutritional supplement. The leaves and roots have medicinal properties as a diuretic and a menstrual cycle regulator. It grows wild along riverbanks and humid forests in Puerto Rico. It has been registered in the West Indies, Central and South America, Asia, and Africa.