Musa Iholena Lele
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Species Name
Musa x paradisiaca 'Lele'
Synonyms
Mai'a Lele
Iholena Lele
Red Iholene/Iholena
White Iholene/Iholena
Pictures
Description
- Genetic Group - Eumusa, AAB, Subgroup Iholena
The most common Iholena species found in Hawai'i, it can be readily found untended in the wild. New leaves have shiny, waxed undersides with coloration ranging from mauve, golden-brown, and dark red. The fruit pulp is a salmon pink color, and the fruits typically hang perpendicular to the peduncle. Specific characteristics of this species are lengthily pointed tips with crimping, tapering on both ends of fruit, and a non-dwarfed trunk. Despite being the most common variety, it is considered an endangered species.
Morphs
There are multiple recognized morphs of Iholena Lele, per research by Kepler & Rust:
- "Regular" Lele
- "Long-Peduncled" Lele
- The peduncle is unusually long (3-4+ ft, 0.9-1.2m). Not to be confused with a similar, more common morph of Iholena Kāpua.
- "Short-Peduncled" Lele
- The peduncle is short (1-1.5 ft, 30-45 cm), with reduced spacing between hands.
- "Multi-mauve" Lele
- Underside of all leaves remain colored.
- "Red" Lele
- Exhibits red on petioles, midribs, and pseudostem. Coloration is strongest in younger plants, reducing in intensity as they age. Specimens originating from tissue culture resembling this form are sold in mainland USA under the name 'Red Iholene/Iholena'.
- Pending further investigation, some Red Iholena specimens may be derived from an introduction of Iholena 'Ula'ula in the 1960s. It is unclear if Iholena 'Ula'ula is synonymous to the red form of Iholena Lele, given the lack of concrete information.
- "White" Lele
- Exhibits little red coloration on petioles and pseudostem, instead being primarily colored white from its natural wax coating. Specimens originating from tissue culture resembling this form are sold in mainland USA under the name 'White Iholene/Iholena'.
Origin
- Date realized in trade - Unknown, thought to be introduced to Hawaii from Kahiki (French Polynesia) circa 300-1200 AD.
Usage
Flowering
- Time To Bloom -
- Time To Harvest -
Cultivation
- Mature Height - 8-22 ft (2.4-6.7 m)
- Survival Zone -
- Fruiting Zone -
- Cold Hardiness -
- Wind - Deep planting is recommended to reduce risk of blowing over.
- Sun -
- Taste Description -
- Personal Notes -
- Growth tips -
Known Afflictions
- Pests - Banana Corm Weevils (Cosmopolites sordidus), parasitic nematodes
- Susceptible Diseases - Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense)
- Resistant Diseases -
Research Notes
- Links to useful discussion threads in the forum:
- Typical Price Range -
Members Growing This Banana
External
- Links
- (Links to other useful pages on the web that mention this banana. Example: International Banana Society)
http://starrenvironmental.com/images/search/?q=iholena+lele
- Sources
Kepler, A.K. and Rust, F.G. 2011. The world of bananas in Hawai'i: then and now. Pali-O-Waipi'o press, Hawaii. 586p. https://uhpress.hawaii.edu/title/the-world-of-bananas-in-hawaii-then-and-now/
Ploetz, R.C., A.K. Kepler, J. Daniells, and S.C. Nelson. 2007. Banana and plantain—an overview with emphasis on Pacific island cultivars, ver. 1. In: Elevitch, C.R. (ed.). Species Profiles for Pacific Island Agroforestry. Permanent Agriculture Resources (PAR), Hōlualoa, Hawai‘i. <http://www.traditionaltree.org>.
Drenth, André; Guest, David I. (2016-08-04). "Fungal and Oomycete Diseases of Tropical Tree Fruit Crops". Annual Review of Phytopathology. Annual Reviews. 54 (1): 373–395. doi:10.1146/annurev-phyto-080615-095944. ISSN 0066-4286.
