Eleele Naioea
Other Names: Eleele
General Characteristics: Medium in height, well spreading, maturing within 8 to 12 months, producing from 5 to 10 oha; characterized by blackish petioles, similar to those of Kumu-eleele, Lauloa eleele-omao, and Lauloa Eleele-ula, and by dark purplish-lilac corm flesh.
Petiole: 65 to 90 cm. long, blackish with inconspicuous narrow brownish to greenish edge, yellowish-green at apex, a dark reddish-purple ring at base with dark lilac-purple for 3 to 4 cm. above.
Leaf blade: 40 to 50 cm. long, 25 to 35 cm. wide, 30 to 40 cm. from tip to base of sinus, sagittate, drooping, slightly undulate, dark green, often with pinkish cast when young; piko inconspicuous, light reddish-brown; lobes acute with wide sinus.
Corm: Flesh lilac-purple with conspicuous darker purple fibers; skin dark reddish-purple.
Inflorescence: Peduncle black; spathe 24 to 26 cm. long, the lower tubular portion 3.5 to 4.5 cm. long, yellowish-green tinged with brown, with purplish areas at base and constriction, the upper portion yellow, slightly open at maturity; spadix 8 to 9 cm. long, the sterile appendage 6 to 7 mm. long.
Origin, and derivation of name: Native variety; the deviation of the descriptive name is unknown.
Distribution: Very popular upland taro cultivated extensively in Kona, Kau, and Puna, Hawaii.
Use: The lilac-purple corms produce red poi that is highly prized.
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