Canna Agriculture Group

is the variety grown for food in South America, but there is no scientific evidence to substantiate the name as a separate species.

It is probable that this is simply a synonym of C. discolor, which is grown for agricultural purposes throughout South America and Asia.

[8][9][10] The rhizomes and leaves are good fodder for cattle and pigs and it is grown for this purpose in Tropical Africa and Hawaii, where it is harvested 4–8 months after planting.

[6] Canna is still grown for human consumption in the Andes and also in Vietnam and southern China, where the starch is used to make cellophane noodles.

In Peru the rhizomes are baked for up to 12 hours by which time they become a white, translucent, fibrous and somewhat mucilaginous mass with a sweetish taste.