Introduction Glossary References Web Resources

Pololū

Taxonomy  Colocasia esculenta var. esculenta

Other names (synonyms)

Habit   Medium in height, moderately spreading, producing 2-5 ‘ohā.

Corm   Flesh chalky white with yellowish fibers; cortex whitish.

Petiole   Light reddish-brown indistinctly diffused with yellowish-green, purplish at apex, red at edge, white at the base.

Leaf blade   Sagittate, dark green with bluish cast; piko purple; lobes acute with shallow, narrow sinus.

Origin   Hawaiian variety.

Cultivation   Wetland cultivation; matures in 12-15 months.

Uses   Poi taro; lū‘au.

Comments   Named after Pololū Valley, Kohala district of Hawai‘i. Preferred leaf taro on Hawai‘i; while not grown for poi, the corms are added to loli-loli taro to make the poi thicker and smoother; poi only of Pololu is not very good and almost too sticky to eat (C. Rathbun, pers. comm.)


© Bishop Museum, 2008. All rights reserved.