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66-470: Natural floating islands are composed of vegetation growing on a buoyant mat of plant roots or other organic detritus. In aquatic regions of Northwestern Europe, several hundred hectares or a couple thousand acres of floating meadows (German Schwingrasen , Dutch trilveen ) have been preserved, which are partly used as agricultural land, partly as nature reserves. They typically occur when growths of cattails , bulrush , sedge , and reeds extend outward from

132-660: A hermaphrodite . However, the cultivars of the Italian group and triploids are almost always seed sterile, and their pollen has a low fertility level. Mutations are almost always totally sterile. Canna seeds have a very hard seed coat , which contributes to their dormancy . Germination is facilitated by scarification of the seed coat, which can be accomplished by several techniques. The species are capable of self-pollination , but most cultivars require an outside pollinator . All cannas produce nectar , so attract nectar-consuming insects , bats , and hummingbirds , that act as

198-479: A 70% isopropyl alcohol mist—diluted slightly—applied during non-sunny periods, as the alcohol may cause sunburn on the plant. Other effective options include insecticidal soap , neem and horticultural oils , and other commercially available spray treatments. Granulated systemic insecticides are also useful, and generally completely safe; when applied to the soil topically every few months, granulated or powdered systemics will prevent nearly all pest infestations (for

264-457: A Floating Island International license holder. A US Army Corps of Engineers project was built in 2012 in The Hideout, Pennsylvania , as part of a watershed management project. The floating island was created to mimic nature; help improve water quality, including reducing phosphorus levels; and buffer habitats against surges in nutrients and pollution. Buoyancy in artificial floating reedbeds

330-405: A degree of variance still occurs. The species C. indica is an aggregate species, having many different and extreme forms ranging from the giant to miniature, from large foliage to small foliage, both green and dark foliage, and many differently coloured blooms of red, orange, pink, or yellow, and combinations of those colours. Outside of a laboratory, the only effective asexual propagation method

396-433: A floating bog over four acres (1.6 ha) in size moved about the area resulting in docks and boat lifts being destroyed. As decaying mass decomposes it releases gases which keep the bog floating. Another type of natural floating island is the pumice raft , which is created by an explosive volcanic eruption , and can float on the ocean for months or even years before becoming fully saturated and sinking. They may assist in

462-506: A jelly-like paste for sores, boils, wounds, burns, scabs, and smallpox pustules. Cattail pollen is used as a banker source of food for predatory insects and mites (such as Amblyseius swirskii ) in greenhouses. The cattail, or, as it is commonly referred to in the American Midwest, the sausage tail, has been the subject of multiple artist renditions, gaining popularity in the mid-twentieth century. The term, sausage tail, derives from

528-462: A lake with changing winds, eventually either reattaching to a new area of the shore or breaking up in heavy weather. Some cenotes in northern Mexico have natural floating islands. In the Brazilian Amazon, floating islands form in lakes on the floodplains of white-water rivers and are known as Matupá and range in size from a few square meters to a few hectares. In Crow Wing County, Minnesota

594-561: A mild form, but can finally result in stunted growth and twisted and distorted blooms and foliage. The flowers are sometimes affected by a grey, fuzzy mold called botrytis . Under humid conditions, it is often found growing on the older flowers. Treatment is to simply remove the old flowers, so the mold does not spread to the new flowers. Cannas grow best in full sun with moderate water in well-drained, rich or sandy soil . They grow from perennial rhizomes , but are frequently grown as annuals in temperate zones for an exotic or tropical look in

660-530: A potential pest for cannas grown indoors, in dry areas, or that receive poor airflow. For canna grown outside (in California or Texas , for example), mealybugs and scale insects are most drawn to the dense folds and creases between the leaves and the stem/petiole, where the foliage attaches to the plant. At times, if left unchecked, these sucking-insects may remain effectively concealed in these tight areas, only for older or dead leaves to be peeled off to reveal

726-414: A simple, jointless stem that bears the flowering spikes. The plants are monoecious , with unisexual flowers that develop in dense racemes . The numerous male flowers form a narrow spike at the top of the vertical stem. Each male (staminate) flower is reduced to a pair of stamens and hairs, and withers once the pollen is shed. Large numbers of tiny female flowers form a dense, sausage -shaped spike on

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792-509: A small colony of white, fuzzy mealybugs congregated. Mealybugs are particularly prevalent in drier climates, such as the Southwestern US . Japanese beetles can also ravage the leaves if left uncontrolled. These pests, while certainly able to drain a plant of its energy over time, and cause its eventual decline, are generally not lethal to the plant when dealt with immediately. The majority of insect pests on canna plants can be sprayed with

858-734: A source of starch for human and animal consumption. C. indica and C. glauca have been grown into many cultivars in India and Africa. The plants are large tropical and subtropical herbaceous perennials with a rhizomatous rootstock. The broad, flat, alternate leaves that are such a feature of these plants, grow out of a stem in a long, narrow roll and then unfurl. The leaves are typically solid green, but some cultivars have glaucose, brownish, maroon, or even variegated leaves. The flowers are asymmetric and composed of three sepals and three petals that are small, inconspicuous, and hidden under extravagant stamens . What appear to be petals are

924-503: A source of starch to produce ethanol . Because of their high productivity in northern latitudes, Typha are considered to be a bioenergy crop . The seed hairs were used by some indigenous peoples of the Americas as tinder for starting fires. Some tribes also used Typha down to line moccasins , and for bedding, diapers, baby powder, and cradleboards . One Native American word for Typha meant "fruit for papoose's bed". Typha down

990-677: A storm event or create a hazard. During World War II , the British Project Habakkuk proposed the construction of aircraft carriers made of ice-like Pykrete . Its size and speed made it more of an artificial iceberg or island than a ship. Commercial development of floating islands has begun taking place. Floating habitat islands were installed with salicornia salt marsh plants at Sydney Olympic Park Authority in 2011 providing nesting sites for local and migratory birds including black swans , black-winged stilts , red-necked avocets , Pacific black ducks and chestnut teals , using

1056-702: Is Typha latifolia , which is distributed across the entire temperate northern hemisphere. It has also been introduced to Australia. T. angustifolia is nearly as widespread, but does not extend as far north; it may be introduced and invasive in North America . T. domingensis has a more southern American distribution, and it occurs in Australia. T. orientalis is widespread in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. T. laxmannii , T. minima , and T. shuttleworthii are largely restricted to Asia and southern Europe . Many parts of

1122-850: Is a genus of about 30 species of monocotyledonous flowering plants in the family Typhaceae . These plants have a variety of common names, in British English as bulrush or (mainly historically) reedmace , in American English as cattail , or punks , in Australia as cumbungi or bulrush , in Canada as bulrush or cattail , and in New Zealand as reed , cattail , bulrush or raupo . Other taxa of plants may be known as bulrush , including some sedges in Scirpus and related genera. The genus

1188-721: Is commonly provided by polyethylene or polyurethane foam, or polyethylene plastic containing air voids. Growth media include coconut fibre; mats made of polyester or recycled PET bottles; synthetic geotechnical mat; jute; soil; and sand. Artificial floating islands are sometimes made by planting cattails and other plants on floating plastic rafts in order to reduce phosphorus levels in the water. In Cleveland 's Cuyahoga River floating rafts were made to restore fish populations. Artificial floating islands have been sought out as structures for different habitational and industrial purposes, e.g. floating oil rigs . Listed alphabetically by state Typha Typha / ˈ t aɪ f ə /

1254-644: Is largely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere , where it is found in a variety of wetland habitats. The rhizomes are edible, though at least some species are known to accumulate toxins and so must first undergo treatment before being eaten. Evidence of preserved starch grains on grinding stones suggests they were already eaten in Europe 30,000 years ago. Typha are aquatic or semi-aquatic, rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial plants . The leaves are glabrous (hairless), linear, alternate and mostly basal on

1320-647: Is obtained, but the leaves and young seeds are also edible, and achira was once a staple food crop in Peru and Ecuador . Trials in Ecuador using a wide range of varieties have shown that achira can yield on average 56 tons of rhizomes and 7.8 tons of extractable starch per hectare. However, the crop needs 9–12 months to mature to full productivity. Many more traditional kinds exist worldwide; they have all involved human selection, so are classified as agricultural cultivars. Traditionally, Canna edulis Ker Gawl. has been reputed to be

1386-416: Is rhizome division. This uses material from a single parent, and as no exchange of genetic material occurs, it almost always produces plants that are identical to the parent. After a summer's growth, the horticultural cultivars can be separated into typically four or five separate smaller rhizomes, each with a growing nodal point (growing eye). Without the growing point, which is composed of meristem material,

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1452-406: Is still used in some areas to stuff clothing items and pillows. Typha can be dipped in wax or fat and then lit as a candle, the stem serving as a wick. Without the use of wax or fat it will smolder slowly, somewhat like incense , and may repel insects. The flower stalks can be made into chopsticks . The leaves can be treated to weave into baskets, mats, or sandals. The rushes are harvested and

1518-469: Is strong with a heavy texture and it is hard to bleach, so it is not suitable for industrial production of graphical paper. In 1853, considerable amounts of cattail paper were produced in New York , due to a shortage of raw materials. In 1948, French scientists tested methods for annual harvesting of the leaves. Because of the high cost, these methods were abandoned and no further research was done. Today Typha

1584-686: Is tall and green-leafed with terminal drooping panicles of hot pink iris-like flowers, looking somewhat like a cross between a banana and a fuchsia. As tender perennials in northern climates, they suffered severe setbacks when two world wars sent the young gardening staff off to war. The genus Canna has recently experienced a renewed interest and revival in popularity. Once, hundreds of cultivars existed, but many are now extinct. In 1910, Árpäd Mühle, from Hungary, published his Canna book, written in German. It contained descriptions of over 500 cultivars. In recent years, many new cultivars have been created, but

1650-461: Is used to make decorative paper. Fibers up to 4 meters long can be obtained from the stems when they are treated mechanically or chemically with sodium hydroxide . The stem fibers resemble jute and can be used to produce raw textiles. The leaf fibers can be used as an alternative to cotton and linen in clothing. The yield of leaf fiber is 30 to 40 percent and Typha glauca can produce 7 to 10 tons per hectare annually. Typha can be used as

1716-607: The Canna cultivar gallery for photographs of Canna cultivars. Cannas are not true lilies , but have been assigned by the APG II system of 2003 to the order Zingiberales in the monocot clade Commelinids , together with their closest relatives, the gingers , spiral gingers , bananas , arrowroots , heliconias , and birds of paradise . The plants have large foliage, so horticulturists have developed selected forms as large-flowered garden plants. Cannas are also used in agriculture as

1782-474: The Arctic Circle , which have short summers, but long days, and the rapid growth rate of cannas makes them a feasible gardening plant, as long as they receive 6–8 hours of sunlight each day during the growing season and are protected from the cold of winter. Cannas are largely free of pests. However, in the eastern and southern United States , plants sometimes fall victim to the canna leaf roller moth , with

1848-524: The Royal Horticultural Society 's Award of Garden Merit : The Canna Agriculture Group contains all of the varieties of Canna grown in agriculture. "Canna achira" is a generic term used in South America to describe the cannas that have been selectively bred for agricultural purposes, normally derived from C. discolor . It is grown especially for its edible rootstock from which starch

1914-487: The Typha plant are edible to humans. Before the plant flowers, the tender inside of the shoots can be squeezed out and eaten raw or cooked. The starchy rhizomes are nutritious with a protein content comparable to that of maize or rice. They can be processed into a flour with 266 kcal per 100 grams, and are most often harvested from late autumn to early spring. They are fibrous, and the starch must be scraped or sucked from

1980-605: The genotype , rather than the phenotype , of the two cultivar groups. Inevitably over time, those two floriferous groups were interbred, the distinctions became blurred and overlapped, and the Bailey species names became redundant. Pseudo-species names are now deprecated by the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants which, instead, provides Cultivar Groups for categorising cultivars (see groups at List of Canna cultivars ). These canna cultivars have gained

2046-417: The "shaded and damp places, between the tropics"; this species is C. angustifolia L. (later reclassified as C. glauca L. by taxonomists). Zingiberaceae Costaceae Cannaceae Marantaceae Lowiaceae Strelitziaceae Heliconiaceae Musaceae Although most cannas grown these days are cultivars (see below), about 20 known species are of the wild form, and in the last three decades of

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2112-525: The 20th century, Canna species have been categorized by two different taxonomists , Paul Maas , from the Netherlands and Nobuyuki Tanaka from Japan. Both reduced the number of species from the 50-100 accepted previously, assigning most as synonyms . This reduction in species is also confirmed by work done by Kress and Prince at the Smithsonian Institution , but this only covers a subset of

2178-504: The Aqua Biofilter product. The world's largest vegetated floating islands 1.6 hectares (4 acres) in size were installed in 2004 using Aqua Biofilter product with canna at Lake Tai , China using materials including a combination of polyurethane open cell filter foam, closed cell polyethylene flotation foam, bamboo and coconut fibre filter foam mix with wicking ability to supply water to plant roots. A commercially produced floating island

2244-950: The Great Lakes to the Everglades . Native sedges are displaced and wet meadows shrink, likely as a response to altered hydrology of the wetlands and increased nutrient levels. An introduced or hybrid species may be contributing to the problem. Control is difficult. The most successful strategy appears to be mowing or burning to remove the aerenchymous stalks, followed by prolonged flooding. It may be more important to prevent invasion by preserving water level fluctuations, including periods of drought, and to maintain infertile conditions. Typha are frequently eaten by wetland mammals such as muskrats , which also use them to construct feeding platforms and dens, thereby also providing nesting and resting places for waterfowl. The following species and hybrids are currently accepted: The most widespread species

2310-602: The bays of the Great Lakes , for example, they are among the most abundant wetland plants. Different species of cattails are adapted to different water depths. Well-developed aerenchyma make the plants tolerant of submersion. Even the dead stalks are capable of transmitting oxygen to the rooting zone. Although Typha are native wetland plants, they can be aggressive in their competition with other native species. They have been problematic in many regions in North America, from

2376-645: The cob . In mid-summer when the male flowers are mature, the pollen can be collected and used as a flour supplement or thickener. The seeds have a high linoleic acid content and can be used to feed cattle and chickens. They can also be found in African countries like Ghana. Harvesting cattail removes nutrients from the wetland that would otherwise return via the decomposition of decaying plant matter. Floating mats of cattails remove nutrients from eutrophied bodies of freshwater . For local native tribes around Lake Titicaca in Peru and Bolivia , Typha were among

2442-547: The duration of effectiveness). Non-scented baby wipes or paper towels, moistened with rubbing alcohol or apple cider vinegar may be used to wipe any invisible eggs or larvae from the leaves. Cannas are remarkably free of diseases, compared to many genera. However, they may fall victim to canna rust , a fungal disease resulting in orange spots on the plant's leaves, caused by over-moist soil. They are also susceptible to certain plant viruses , some of which are Canna -specific , which may result in spotted or streaked leaves, in

2508-497: The early 20th century, Professor Liberty Hyde Bailey defined, in detail, two "garden species" ( C. × generalis and C. × orchiodes ) to categorise the floriferous cannas being grown at that time, namely the Crozy hybrids and the orchid-like hybrids introduced by Carl Ludwig Sprenger in Italy and Luther Burbank in the U.S., at about the same time (1894). The definition was based on

2574-531: The first wetland plants to colonize areas of newly exposed wet mud, with their abundant wind-dispersed seeds. Buried seeds can survive in the soil for long periods of time. They germinate best with sunlight and fluctuating temperatures, which is typical of many wetland plants that regenerate on mud flats. The plants also spread by rhizomes , forming large, interconnected stands. Typha are considered to be dominant competitors in wetlands in many areas, and they often exclude other plants with their dense canopy. In

2640-468: The floating reedbeds of the Uros are increasingly used by local governments and catchment managers to improve water quality at source, reducing pollutants in surface water bodies and providing biodiversity habitat . Examples include Gold Coast City Council in Australia. Artificial floating reedbeds are commonly anchored to the shoreline or bottom of water body, to ensure the system does not float away in

2706-412: The flowers are bees , hummingbirds , sunbirds , and bats . The pollination mechanism is conspicuously specialized. Pollen is shed on the style while still in the bud , and in the species and early hybrids, some is also found on the stigma because of the high position of the anther, which means that they are self-pollinating. Later cultivars have a lower anther, and rely on pollinators alighting on

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2772-475: The garden. In arid regions, cannas are often grown in the water garden, with the lower inch of pot submerged. In all areas, high winds tear the leaves, so shelter is advised. The rhizomes are sensitive to frost and will rot if left unprotected in freezing conditions. In areas with winter temperatures below −10 °C (14 °F) in the winter (< USDA Zone 8b), the rhizomes can be dug up before freezing and stored (above 7 °C or 45 °F) for replanting in

2838-431: The genus suffers severely from having many synonyms for many popular ones. Most of the synonyms were created by old varieties resurfacing without viable names, with the increase in popularity from the 1960s onwards. Research has accumulated over 2,800 Canna cultivar names, but many of these are simply synonyms. See List of Canna hybridists for details of the people and firms that created the current Canna legacy. In

2904-457: The genus's species are native to the American tropics and were naturalized in Europe, India and Africa in the 1860s. Although they grow native to the tropics, most cultivars have been developed in temperate climates and are easy to grow in most countries of the world, as long as they receive at least 6–8 hours average sunlight during the summer, and are moved to a warm location for the winter. See

2970-531: The highly modified stamens or staminodes . The staminodes number (1–) 3 (–4) (with at least one staminodal member called the labellum , always being present. A specialized staminode, the stamen, bears pollen from a half- anther . A somewhat narrower "petal" is the pistil , which is connected down to a three-chambered ovary . The flowers are typically red, orange, or yellow, or any combination of those colours, and are aggregated in inflorescences that are spikes or panicles (thyrses). The main pollinators of

3036-407: The labellum and touching first the terminal stigma, and then the pollen. The wild species often grow to at least 2–3 m (6.6–9.8 ft) in height, but wide variation in size exists among cultivated plants; numerous cultivars have been selected for smaller stature. Cannas grow from swollen underground stems , correctly known as rhizomes, which store starch, and this is the main attraction of

3102-410: The leaves often dried for later use in chair seats. Re-wetted, the leaves are twisted and wrapped around the chair rungs to form a densely woven seat that is then stuffed (usually with the left over rush). Small-scale experiments have indicated that Typha are able to remove arsenic from drinking water. The boiled rootstocks have been used as a diuretic for increasing urination, or mashed to make

3168-535: The migration of plants and animals. Floating artificial islands are generally made of bundled reeds, and the best known examples are those of the Uros people of Lake Titicaca , Peru , who build their villages upon what are in effect huge rafts of bundled totora reeds. The Uros originally created their islands to prevent attacks by their more aggressive neighbours, the Incas and Collas . The Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan ,

3234-643: The most important plants and every part of the plant had multiple uses. For example, they were used to construct rafts and other boats. During World War II, the United States Navy used the down of Typha as a substitute for kapok in life vests and aviation jackets. Tests showed that even after 100 hours of submersion, the buoyancy was still effective. Typha are used as thermal insulation in buildings as an organic alternative to conventional insulating materials such as glass wool or stone wool . Typha stems and leaves can be used to make paper . It

3300-467: The plant is from India, in Asia, but because this species was originally transported from America: Quia ex America primum delata sit ; and at that time, one described the tropical areas of that part of the globe as the West Indies . Much later, in 1658, Willem Piso made reference to another species that he documented under the vulgar or common name of 'Albara' and 'Pacivira', which resided, he said, in

3366-628: The plant to agriculture, having the largest starch grains of all plant life. Canna is the only member of the Liliopsida class ( monocot group) in which hibernation of seed is known to occur, due to its hard, impenetrable seed covering. The name Canna originates from the Latin word for a cane or reed. Canna indica , commonly called achira in Latin America, has been cultivated by Native Americans in tropical America for thousands of years, and

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3432-404: The process are regulated by different ratios of plant growth regulators. Many commercial organizations have produced cannas this way, and specifically the "Island Series" of cannas was introduced by means of mass-produced plants using this technique. However, cannas have a reputation for being difficult micropropagation candidates. Micropropagation techniques can be employed to disinfest plants of

3498-436: The resultant leaf damage, while not being fatal to the plant, can be most distressing to a keen gardener's eye. Slugs and snails are quite fond of cannas and their large, juicy leaves, potentially leaving unsightly holes where they have chewed on the plant—particularly during and after rainy periods (when mollusks become active). Slugs and snails tend to prefer tender, younger foliage, however. Red spider mites may also be

3564-454: The rhizome will not grow. Micropropagation , also known as tissue culture, is the practice of rapidly multiplying stock plant material to produce a large number of progeny plants. Micropropagation uses in vitro division of small pieces in a sterile environment, where they first produce proliferations of tissue, which are then separated into small pieces that are treated differently so that they produce roots and new stem tissue. The steps in

3630-427: The shoreline of a wetland area. As the water gets deeper the roots no longer reach the bottom, so they use the oxygen in their root mass for buoyancy , and the surrounding vegetation for support to retain their top-side-up orientation. The area beneath these floating mats is exceptionally rich in aquatic lifeforms. Eventually, storm events tear whole sections free from the shore, and the islands thus formed migrate around

3696-472: The similarity that cattails have with sausages, a name given to the plant by the Midwest Polish community who had noticed a striking similarity between the plant and a common Polish dish, kiełbasa . Canna (plant) 19 classified species, see List of Canna species Canna or canna lily is the only genus of flowering plants in the family Cannaceae, consisting of 10 species . All of

3762-461: The species grown for food in South America, but C. edulis probably is simply a synonym of C. discolor , which is also grown for agricultural purposes throughout Asia. Seeds are produced from sexual reproduction, involving the transfer of pollen from the stamen of the pollen parent onto the stigma of the seed parent. In the case of Canna , the same plant can usually play the roles of both pollen and seed parents, technically referred to as

3828-563: The species range. The genus is native to tropical and subtropical regions of the New World , from the Southern United States (southern South Carolina west to southern Texas ) and south to northern Argentina . C. indica has become naturalized in many tropical areas around the world, is a difficult plant to remove, and is invasive in some places. Canna cultivars are grown in most countries, even those with territory above

3894-647: The spring. Otherwise, they should be protected by a thick layer of mulch over winter. Cannas became very popular in Victorian times as garden plants, and were grown widely in France, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Some cultivars from this time, including a sterile hybrid, usually referred to as Canna × ehemannii , are still commercially available. C.  ×  ehemannii

3960-444: The stem below the male spike. In larger species this can be up to 30 centimetres (12 in) long and 1 to 4 centimetres (0.4 to 2 in) thick. The seeds are minute, 0.2 millimetres (0.008 in) long, and attached to fine hairs. When ripe, the heads disintegrate into a cottony fluff from which the seeds disperse by wind . Fruits of Typha have been found as long ago as 69 mya in modern Central Europe. Typha are often among

4026-518: The tender white heart inside can be eaten raw or boiled and eaten like asparagus . This food has been popular among the Cossacks in Russia, and has been called "Cossack asparagus". The leaf bases can be eaten raw or cooked, especially in late spring when they are young and tender. In early summer the sheath can be removed from the developing green flower spike, which can then be boiled and eaten like corn on

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4092-509: The tough fibers. Baby shoots emerging from the rhizomes, which are sometimes subterranean, can be picked and eaten raw. Also underground is a carbohydrate lump which can be peeled and eaten raw or cooked like a potato . The plant is one championed by survival experts because various parts can be eaten throughout the year. Plants growing in polluted water can accumulate lead and pesticide residues in their rhizomes, and these should not be eaten. The rind of young stems can be peeled off, and

4158-415: The transfer agent, spreading pollen between stamens and stigmas on the same or different flowers. Since genetic recombination has occurred, a cultivar grown from seed will have different characteristics from its parent(s), thus should never be given a parent's name. The wild species have evolved in the absence of other Canna genes and are usually true to type when the parents are of the same species, but

4224-536: Was installed in the river otter enclosure at Zoo Montana in 2007. In 2009 and the beginning of 2010, a few larger islands were launched to provide nesting habitat for Caspian tern colonies. The largest of the islands, at a record-setting 44,000 sq ft (4,100 m), was launched into the water at Sheepy Lake . These islands are a collaboration between the United States Army Corps of Engineers , Oregon State University , and Floating Islands West,

4290-507: Was one of the earliest domesticated plants in the Americas. The starchy root is edible. The first species of Canna introduced to Europe was C. indica , which was imported from the East Indies , though the species originated from the Americas . Charles de l'Ecluse , who first described and sketched C. indica , indicated this origin, and stated that it was given the name indica , not because

4356-543: Was surrounded with chinampas , small artificial islands used for agriculture known as "floating gardens" (though not really floating). Floating gardens on a large scale have been demonstrated with aquaponics systems in China growing rice, wheat and canna lily on islands. Spiral Island was a more modern one-person effort to build an artificial floating island, on the Caribbean coast of Mexico . Modern artificial islands mimicking

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