Manini Kea
General Characteristics: Medium in height to tall, well spreading, maturing in about 12 months, producing from 5 to 10 oha; distinguished by very light-colored petioles with indistinct reddish-purple stripes.
Petiole: 65 to 90 cm. long, shading from light green to yellowish-green toward apex with a few indistinct, more or less interrupted reddish-purple stripes more prominent toward base, conspicuously reddish-purple at apex, an area of white for 3 to 5 cm. above base, with inconspicuous faint pink to whitish edge.
Leaf blade: 40 to 50 cm. long, 30 to 35 cm. wide, 30 to 40 cm. from tip to base of sinus, sagittate, thin in texture, drooping, dark green with bluish cast; piko purple; veins purple on lower surface of lobes; lobes acute with narrow sinus.
Corm: Flesh white with yellowish fibers; skin white to cream-colored.
Origin, and derivation of name: Native variety; probably called Kea because of very light petioles.
Distribution: Planted in a few scattered localities, under upland or wetland culture.
Use: Makes poi of good quality.
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