190 



they yield heavil\% in some cases two to four times the average 

 yield of potatoes ; * * * their keeping" qualities are in most 

 cases excellent, whether kept in the ground in situ or in a dry 

 place in bags ; and they are resistant to insect and fungus pests." 

 These statements are all applicable to the Hawaiian kalo ; in- 

 deed, it is probable that no other aroid possesses these valuable 

 agricultural qualities to the degree in which they are manifested 

 in the kalo. As rice among the cereals, as •coconut among the 

 palms, so is kalo chief among the aroids. 



2. LEAVES. 



These, in Hawaiian, are designated lau-kalo, lait-alo, or la-alo. 

 These indicate the linguistic evolution of shortened or condensed 

 forms. The intermediate form, laii-alo, has become obsolete, in 

 compliance with the general law that intermediate forms or types, 

 whether in linguistic or organic evolution, tend to become extinct. 

 Compare with these names for the kalo leaf the names lait-ko and 

 !a-o, sugar-cane leaf, and /(/;/ ki and la-i, ki or ti leaf. 



The kalo plant is a perennial herb having large, succulent leaves. 

 Some of the ornamental kalos are called "elephant ears,", from 

 the fancied resemblance of the huge leaves to the flapping ears 

 of the elephant. The leaves are borne aloft on tall, stocky, flexible 

 petioles, which are of pithy structure, but amply strong to sup- 

 ])ort the generous expanse of leaf surface. The petioles arise at 

 the surface of the ground from the to]j or summit of the starchy 

 corm. In Hawaiian the petiole is //(/. This word is also ap])lied 

 to the outside leaves of kalo when they are killed by cold or 

 drought. Each petiole is grooved along its inner surface, and 

 well-rounded on its outer surface, and thus fits snugly around 

 its companions in the bud. This grooving or "u-bar" effect is 

 also a mechanical device whereby greater strength is secured than 

 if the material were disposed in a simjjle cylindrical manner. 'Hie 

 substance of the petiole is relatively weak and ]:)ithy, but due to 

 the arrangement of the various tissues, and their normal condi- 

 tion of being swollen with water (turgidity), the jietiole is ren- 

 dered strong for its burden. If the water is drawn out of the 

 tissues of the petiole, as b)- excessive evaporation, it "wills." and 

 is not able to sustain the leaf. The Hawaiians call ac the li(|uid or 

 juices that can be wrung frnm llie leaves of such vegetal)]es as 

 kalo. 



Tlie leaf-blade itself is shield-sliaped or peltate. 'I'he juncture 

 of the i)etiole with the leaf-blade, is called f^iko. in I lawaiian. The 

 blade is dis])oscd at such an angle as to catch an abundance of 

 sunlight. The leaves do not overlap very much, so as to shaile 

 each other, but rather fill in all the available spaces, and avoid 

 infringing upon each otlier's territory. "I'his is especially neces- 

 sary in the case (jf large, undivided leaves like the kalo. banana 



