Which variety of Kalo is the best? The one that's in the bowl on the table. - Jeremy Konanui, Hawaiian Mahiai
Native variety; the name Pikoele refers to the obvious dark purple piko. Piko is the navel, or center of the kalo leaf. ‘Ele‘ means dark or black. This is not the same variety as Piko ‘Ele‘ele.
USE AS FOOD
Mainly as table taro.
DISTRIBUTION
Little-known variety of limited distribution.
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
Medium in height, moderately spreading, maturing within 9 to 12 months, producing from 5 to 10 ‘ohā; characterized by unusually large, prominent purple piko, the navel, or center of the kalo leaf.
HA (PETIOLE)
65 to 90 cm. tall, dark green, red at the lihi (stem edge), purplish at the top (apex), white or greenish-white at kōhina (base).
LAU OR LU'AU(LEAF BLADE)
45 to 50 cm. long, 30 to 35 cm. wide, 35 to 40 cm. from tip to base of sinus (māwae), egg-shaped (ovate), dark green; piko conspicuous, dark purple; round leaf section (lobes) acute with narrow lihi māwae (sinus).
I'O KALO (CORM)'
Flesh chalky white with conspicuous yellowish fibers; skin white to cream-colored.
PUA (FLOWER)
Hā (peduncle) dark green; flower cover (spathe) 18 to 20 cm. long, the lower tubular portion about 3 cm. long, dark green, the upper portion yellow; spadix (spike of flower) 6.5 to 7 cm. long, the sterile appendage (tip of flower's spike) about 9 mm. long.
REMARKS
Because of the similarity in names, this variety is sometimes confused with Piko ‘Ele‘ele, but it is not the same.
*The # refers to CTAHR's bulletin 84 system.
