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.
Tamales wrapped in a corn husk. /VCG Photo
The roots of the Indian shot are sweet in taste and can be consumed raw or baked.
(All images via VCG)
About 'Plants & Nations'
"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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