Lauloa Eleele-omao
Other Names: Lauloa Eleele, Lauloa Ha Eleele
General Characteristics: Tall, erect, stocky, maturing within 9 to 12 months, producing from 5 to 10 oha; recognized by purplish marginal veins on leaves and greenish edges of purplish-black petioles.
Petiole: 100 to 140 cm. long, purplish-black with fairly distinct light green edge, a dark red ring at base with light pink for 1 to 2 cm. above.
Leaf blade: 40 to 60 cm. long, 30 to 40 cm. wide, 35 to 45 cm. from tip to base of sinus, sagittate, slightly concave, dark green; margins with a few large undulations, the marginal veins purple; piko small, purplish; lobes obtuse with narrow sinus.
Corm: Flesh white, tinged with pink especially near the apex, with yellowish fibers; skin light to brilliant dark pink and occasionally purple along leaf-scar rings.
Inflorescence: Peduncle purplish-black; spathe 30 to 35 cm. long, usually curved and drooping, the lower tubular portion 5.5 to 6 cm. long, dark reddish-purple, the upper portion orange with reddish-purple margins, usually tightly rolled but sometimes slightly open near constriction.
Origin, and derivation of name: Native variety; the descriptive name Eleele refers to the purplish-black color of the petioles and the suffix omao to the light green edges.
Distribution: Planted fairly extensively in the uplands throughout the islands but especially so in Kona, Hawaii.
Use: Mainly as a table taro.
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