Mana Ulu (Mana Owene)

General characteristics: Medium in height, slender, erect, maturing within 7 to 12 months, producing two or three branches; distinguished by pinkish-rose color of petioles.

Petiole: 50 to 85 cm long, pink when young, changing to yellow-green except near base, with narrow, indistinct, light pinkish edge.

Leaf blade: 30 to 50 cm long, 20 to 30 wide, 20 to 40 cm from tip to base of sinus, sagittate, vertical, firm-chartaceous, dark green or with bluish cast; piko pink or yellowish, the color extending into the main veins of the lobes; lobes acute with deep sinus.

Corm: Flesh yellow with light yellowish fibers; skin yellow.

Origin, and derivation of name: Native variety; called Ulu because of the resemblance of the flesh of teh corm to the poi made from breadfruit.

Distribution: Found extensively under upland culture in Kona, Puna and Kau, Hawaii; does well under wetland culture on Kauai.

Use: Mainly as table taro.

Remarks: The orange-yellow flesh of the cooked taro is much more attractive than that of most other varieties.

Taken from “Taro Varieties in Hawaii” Bulletin 84 by CTAHR

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