Canna  indica  L. Ð Canna; Indian Shot  Ð Cannaceae

Canna seeds are a favorite 'bead' of many necklace makers from South America and India.  Women and children of the Amazon puncture holes in the seeds of canna on a wooden bow drill.

Linnaeus gave this plant its specific name, indica, because he thought the plant derived from India.  In fact this spectacularly ornamental flower, Canna indica, is native to tropical America.  Inch-long wart-covered seed cases contain round, hard, minutely-pitted black seeds which are used as shot in pop guns by children in India.  This explains its common name of Indian shot.

 

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