Piko Kea
General characteristics: Medium in height, erect, moderately stocky, maturing within 15 to 18 months, producing from 5 to 10 oha; distinguished by light green petioles and pinkish base.
Petiole: 60 to 100 cm long, light green, pinkish-red at edge, usually with adjacent dark green blotches especially near base, a pink ring at base with light pink for 3 to 4 cm above.
Leaf blade: 30 to 45 cm long, 25 to 35 cm wide, 20 to 35 cm from base of sinus to tip, ovate, nearly horizontal, light to dark green; piko whitish; lobes narrow and obtuse with narrow sinus.
Corm: Flesh white with pinkish apex and yellowish fibers; skin pale pink.
Inflorescence: Peduncle green; spathe 15 to 20 cm long, the lower tubular constricted protions 3 to 4.5 cm long, green, usually tinged with red at base, usually partially opened exposing ovaries, the upper portion deep yellow; spadix 5 to 6 cm long, the sterile appendage about 4 mm long.
Origin, and derivation of name: Native variety; Kea referes to the light green coloring of the petioles.
Distribution: Widely planted on all the islands, almost exclusively in wetland patches; although grown extensively in the lowlands, it appears to thrive better up toward the mountains where the water is cooler.
Use: A very important poi taro, particularly to Oahu.
Remarks: The corms have fairly firm texture and will absorb more water, in the preparation of paiai, than most varieties. The poi is light bluish-grey in color and of very good quality
Taken from “Taro Varieties in Hawaii” Bulletin 84 by CTAHR
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