10 BULLETIN 1247, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
broad and of good quality, but it is short, multiple headed (fig. 5), 
and very irregular. 
The few tubers produced are oval, usually 2 ounces or less in weight, 
snowy white when cooked, and of good quality; they are somewhat 
moist if used soon after harvesting, but become drier and more mealy 
after a period in storage. The tubers of the Yatsu-gashira keep well. 
In Japan the variety appears to be valued mostly for the corms, and 
it is rated as one of the best. 
Fig. 5.—Multiple-headed corm (reduced) of the Yatsu-gasbkira taro (S. P. I. No. 40805) 
grown in Florida. This is one of the best of the small-growing Japanese varieties. 
The lateral tubers of this variety are few and usually range from 1 to 2 ounces 
each in weight. These small-tubered taros mature nearly a month earlier than 
the Trinidad dasheen and other large-growing varieties. (P25933FS.) 
Kinu-katsugi, S. P. I. No. 45481.—This variety, also a favorite in 
Japan, resembles the preceding in size and quality of tubers. The 
corms are single headed, however, and the petioles plain green. 
PENANG TARO, S. P. I. NO. 29327,° 
The Penang taro (Pls. VIII and IX) is an excellent, fragrant va- 
riety of an important type which produces a rather large corm but 
*The name Penang used here has no connection, so far as known, with the island of 
{hat name which lies off the Malay Peninsula, but appears to be a variant rendering of 
ee = 
the first two of the three characters, AR Aif + , of the Chinese name of this variety. 
