44 BULLETIN 55, HAWAII EXPERIMENT STATION 
lobes tipped with orange, the two outside and the middle ones long and 
pointed, two intermediate, slim and more pointed ; nectar abundant and jelly- 
like ; the free petal, large, white, 3.7 centimeters long, bladdery but keeled; 
stamens, 5, white ; anthers, curved outward, brown edged, with little or no 
pollen; style, slim, white, changing to a yellow buff near stigma, which is 
small and 6 lobed. 
Fruit. — Bunch, 5 to 9 hands weighing 30 to 50 pounds; about 9 to 14 fruits 
to hand; individual bananas weigh 6 to 8 ounces, 6% inches long, 1% inches 
in diameter, slightly curved, 3 to 5 angled, more cylindrical than fruit of other, 
varieties of Iholena group, basal end pediceled, three-fourths inch long; 
apex, prominently beaked ; skin, clear yellow, waxy, medium in thickness. 
very tough, not peeling well until fully ripe ; pulp, firm, light salmon colored ; 
core, indistinct ; seedless ; flavor, good subacid apple-like. The fruit, which 
is yellow for one to two weeks before fully ripening, may be eaten raw, but 
is most generally used as a cooking banana. 
LELE 
The Lele is distinguished from other varieties of the Iholena 
group mainly by its slender trunk, long, gracefully curved fruiting 
stem, and compact arrangement of fruit. It is one of the most 
commonly found of the wild varieties growing in the mountain 
gorges, but frequently responds to cultivation. The Hawaiian term 
" Lele " is said to mean " scaffold," where things are hung for 
sacrifices in a " heiau," or Hawaiin temple. 
Plants. — Erect, 18 to 22 feet tall ; trunk, slim, 10 to 12 inches in diameter at 
base, tapering upward ; color, yellowish light green ; leaves, about 8 feet long 
with greatest width of blade often 24 inches ; petioles and blade surface, light 
green ; under surface of young foliage usually of a beautiful reddish cast. 
Flowers. — Staminate flower, 6 centimeters long, light cream color, with ovary 
of greenish cast ; perianth, streaked with brownish cast, 5 lobes tipped with 
yellow, two outside and middle reflexed, the two intermediate, narrow and 
erect ; corolla, sometimes consists of more than one petal, white, translucent ; 
apicula, prominent ; stamens, 5 or 6. much longer than other parts of the 
flower, curved outward ; pistil, about as long as perianth ; style, slim, and 
stigma, comparatively small ; nectar, a clear jellylike mass around the base of 
style inside the bowl of the petal ; the staminate flowers often have abundance 
of pollen. 
Fruit. — Bunch, compact, 5 to 8 hands; rachis, very long; bananas tapering 
toward both ends, 5 or 6 inches long, diameter, 1% to 2 inches, 3 to 5 angled ; 
angle ridges remain prominent to full maturity of fruit; skin, thick, bright 
yellow ; pulp, light salmon pink, firm ; core, indistinct ; flavor, subacid, deli- 
cious. The fruit is used either raw or cooked (pi. 16, B). 
Popoulu Group 
Varieties of the Popoulu group are characterized by their medium 
height and compact bunches of fruit, the fingers of which are short 
and thick, without angles, and set at right angles to the axis of the 
bunch. At full maturity, the skin is very thin and the pulp is a light 
salmon color. 
POPOULU 
The Popoulu (No. 4761) is one of the well-known native varieties, 
and prefers cool, moist woodland regions of the mountains, but can 
be easily cultivated at the lower elevations. Probably the best char- 
acter of identification is the fruit, which is short, thick, and of blunt 
appearance. The Hawaiian name " Popoulu " means " ball-shaped 
like a breadfruit," and refers to the shape of the individual fruits. 
J 
