Mana Kukuluhema (Manua)
General characteristics: Short medium in height, moderately spreading, maturing within 9 to 12 months, producing two or three branches; differentiated from Mana Keokeo by lighter petioles and whitish rather than light lilac-pink or purple leaf-scar rings on corms.
Petiole: 50 to 70 cm long, pale green, often with light brownish fleckings near base and along margins, pink at edge, purplish at apex, white at base.
Leaf blade: 40 to 45 cm long, 30 to 35 cm wide, 30 to 35 cm from tip to base of sinus, ovate, firm-chartaceous, medium green; margins slightly revolute; piko yellowish to light purple; lobes acute with narrow sinus.
Corm: Flesh chalky white with conpsicuous yellow fibers; skin white.
Inflorescence: Peduncle whitish; spathe 21 to 24 cm long, the lower tubular portion 3 to 4 cm long, light green, the upper portion yellow, tightly rolled; spadix 7 to 8 cm long, the sterile appendage 4 to 5 mm long.
Origin, and derivation of name: Introduced from Samoa under the name Manua. Because of theclose similarity between Mana and Manua, the Hawaiian Kukuluhema, meaning “south,” has been substituted for Manua.
Distribution: Very little known.
Use: A fair table taro.
Taken from “Taro Varieties in Hawaii” Bulletin 84 by CTAHR
Stumble it!