Excerpts from Jim Conrad's
Naturalist Newsletter

from the December 10, 2007 Newsletter issued from Yerba Buena Clinic just outside Pueblo Nuevo Solistahuacan, Chiapas, MÉXICO
about 1740 meters in elevation, ± LAT. 17° 11' 27"N, LONG. -92° 53' 35"W
TALL CANNAS FLOWERING
In another of the cloudforest zone's sheltered coves I encountered the reddish-orange-blossomed cannas shown below:

Canna flowers

I think of cannas as heat-loving plants, but at this elevation, about 2100 meters or 6900 ft, it was downright cool, even in the middle of a sunny day. The most unexpected thing about these cannas, though, was their height -- 3.6 meters or twelve feet or more. Leaning toward an opening in the canopy with sunlight glowing in their broad, elegantly parallel-lineated blades and their flame-colored blossoms simply afire, these plants projected a dignified and imposing presence. I have no idea which species this is. Breedlove's Flora of Chiapas lists five canna species, though none is listed for the Reserve.

Canna flowers present several interesting variations on the standard blossom theme so you might be interested in looking over my Canna Flower Page at www.backyardnature.net/fl_canna.htm.