It's hard to miss the Canna indica, or Indian shot, in a garden thanks to its bright flowers and attractive leaves. The plant of the moist tropics is native to much of the Americas and has been cultivated as a food crop for centuries.

The plant has large flowers, usually red or orange, and the leaves are often used as wrappings. In Mexican cuisine, tamales are made with a corn-based dough and various fillings wrapped in corn husks, banana leaves or the leaves of Indian shots.

The roots of the Indian shot are sweet in taste and can be consumed raw or baked.

(All images via VCG)

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"Plants & Nations" is a series of articles and pictures about common plants in the world. It serves as a guide to beautiful plants from different countries. 

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