A new non-enveloped small bacilliform virus of ca. 28×120-130nm was found from canna plant (Canna sp.) showing systemic symptoms of veinal yellowing or necrosis, mottling and stunting collected at Iwai of Ibaragi prefecture in 1978. In thin sections, the virus particles were mainly observed as singles or aggregates in the cytoplasm of phloem cells. Virus-infected cells were also characterized by the development of vesicular structures. Since no small bacilliform virus has been reported from canna so far, the virus was designated as canna yellow mottle virus (CYMV). Small bacilliform viruses may be classified into two groups of cacao swollen shoot virus (CSSV) and orchid fleck virus (OFV) basing on their natures. The CYMV seemed to belong to the CSSV group.