46 BULLETIN 55, HAWAII EXPERIMENT STATION 
MOA OR HUAMOA 
This variety of the Popoulu group has very distinct varietal char- 
acters, particularly those of the fruit. It is also distinguished from 
other Popoulu varieties by its tall tapering trunk and bunches of 
fruit consisting of only a few large bananas. In the mountain 
gorges, where the variety grows wild, the bunches often consist of 
three to six fruits only. When given good cultivation, the plants- 
often produce larger bunches. The fruit is difficult to mature because 
irregularities of soil moisture cause the skin to split. 
Plants. — Height, 16 to 18 feet ; trunk distinctly tapers from base to crown ; 
outer sheaths, green, with pinkish tints, which are also evident on the 
younger growth ; leaves, about 6 to 8 feet long, the petiole portions being un- 
usually long ; the crown usually contains more leaves than do other varieties ; 
fruiting stem, very slender. 
Flowers. — Staminate flower, 4.6 centimeters long, creamy white, occasionally 
streaked with pink on exterior of perianth ; lobes, tipped with yellow ; petal, 
whitish, surface often depressed ; apicula, long, with several folds ; stamens, 5 ; 
anthers, rather dark at maturity ; pistil, about as long as perianth ; style, slim ; 
stigma, small and dark. 
Fruit. — Oblong, nearly as great in diameter as in length, about Sy 2 by 5 
inches, very plump at both base and apex ; skin, golden yellow, very thin ; pulp, 
firm, pinkish yellow ; seedless ; core, distinct ; flavor, sweet and delicious. It 
may be eaten raw or cooked (pi. 17, B). 
Unclassified 
The Maia-oa (No. 5091) is an ornamental variety which was prob- 
ably introduced in seed form by the ancient Hawaiians for some 
medicinal purpose. The fruit is very small and unsuited for use as 
a food. The variety is of value to the banana breeder, because a 
portion of its flowers are perfect and through self-pollination pro- 
duce seeds becoming viable in the mature fruit. The staminate 
flowers produce an abundance of pollen, which also may be used in 
crossbreeding banana varieties. The Maia-oa is probably a distinct 
species. 
Plants. — In good culture the plant may reach 18 feet high; trunk, erect, 
slender, varying from 8 to 12 feet long and tapering upward; outer, sheath 
coverings, dull green, considerably washed and splotched with purplish to 
dark-brown colors ; patches of dark brown usually at base of petioles ; leaves, 
5 to 10 feet long, greatest width, 10 to 14 inches ; petioles, washed with reddish 
brown, shallow groove above ; prominent margins, turned outward, reflexed, and 
terminate unevenly in the margins of blades; blade, oblong to lanceolate, under 
side beautifully colored with bronze and purplish red, changeable with the leaf 
movement in the breeze, dull green above, with irregular blotches of reddish 
brown ; apex of young leaf, while still rolled, terminates in long, twisted lash 
falling away as blade expands. 
Flowers. — Ovary of pistillate flower, about 5 centimeters long, 4 to 5 angled, 
tapering at both ends; the cluster usually consists of 7 hands, with 13 or 14 
flowers each ; bracts, small, pale red, or brownish outside, gray, with slight 
tinges of red inside; perianth, 3 to 3.5 centimeters long, delicately ridged length- 
wise, whitish to rich cream color, 5 tips small, reflexed, bright yellow. 2 out- 
ward, slim, middle, broad, 2 intermediate much smaller; style and stigma, about 
as long as perianth, cream colored ; stigma, oblong and saadiu;; to' dark yellow; 
petal, 1.8 centimeters long, full, smooth, iridescent ; slight dimple below angular 
