Akado
Other Names: Ekaeka
General Characteristics: Medium in height to tall, stiffly erect, stocky, maturing within 10 months, producing more than 20 oha which remain dormant for several weeks; outstanding among the Japanese taros because of the vivid petiole coloring.
Petiole: 60 to 90 cm. long, greenish-bronze shading into dark reddish-purple at base and apex, indistinctly edged, curved abruptly at apex so that blade hangs more or less vertically.
Leaf blade: 40 to 55 cm. long, 30 to 40 cm. wide, 35 to 45 cm. from tip to base of sinus, broadly ovate, firm-chartaceous, dark green with bluish cast, often tinged with purple on lower surface when young, with conspicuous purple veins on lower surface; piko prominent, purple; lobes acute with shallow, wide sinus.
Corm: Flesh white with yellowish fibers; skin purple; oha usually 4 to 6 cm. in diameter.
Origin, and derivation of name: Probably native of Japan; called Akado because of coloring of petioles. Ekaeka, meaning "dirty reddish," is the name given by the Hawaiians, probably also referring to the petiole coloring.
Distribution: Grown sparingly, almost entirely by Japanese gardeners in small patches, usually under upland culture.
Use: Oha used principally as table taro; petiole stalks sometimes sold as greens; sprouts from small oha grown in darkness sold in limited amount.
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