Taxonomic history:
1753: Linnaeus described this species as Canna indica in Species Plantarum, 1st edition, p. 1.
today: The current name for this species is Canna indica L.
original Latin description
Canna foliis ovatis utrinque acuminatis nervosis.
English translation
Canna with leaves ovate, at both ends acuminate, [and] veined.
English translation with commentary
| Canna | Canna |
| with leaves | foliis - ablative plural of second declension neuter noun folium, -i |
| ovate, | ovatis - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective ovatus, -a, -um; modifies foliis |
| at both ends | utrinque - adverb |
| acuminate, | acuminate - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective acuminatus, -a, -um; modifies foliis |
| [and] | added for smoother reading |
| veined. | nervosis - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective nervosus, -a, -um |