Author Topic: Banana Ele'Ele (black hawaiian)  (Read 862 times)

spaugh

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Banana Ele'Ele (black hawaiian)
« on: August 30, 2021, 10:01:13 AM »
Ele'Ele banana plant.  Same as AeAe but non variegated, with black P stem.  Rare, hard to find.

50$

Local pickup only

Brad Spaugh

spaugh

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Re: Banana Ele'Ele (black hawaiian)
« Reply #1 on: August 30, 2021, 10:05:42 AM »
The 'Ele Ele' is also known as the 'Hawaiian Black' banana. The plant grows quite tall up to 16-18 feet. The stem is sturdy and the overall appearance of the plant is that the entire pseudostem is dark brown or black. The leaves are green. The fruit is between a plantain and a banana and the flavor is delicious. This plant is a vigorous grower and stands up well to wind. It grows on all the Hawaiian islands. Also called Hinu-pua'a because the trunk looks as if it has been polished with pigs grease. Hawaiians value this banana not for it's fruit that is edible when cooked but for the black skin of the stalk(iliha) wich is used to be employed in plaiting ornamental borders on mats and since missionary times has been used in the same way in plaiting hat braids. It is said that when this banana is planted near the sea it loses his blackness. In Puna, Ele Ele is planted on the lowlands. To preserve it's blackness, Puna planters always plant Ele Ele on a dark moonless night. This variety is sometimes called 'poni' which means purple. Stripes of the black skin were also woven into lahuala mats. Of the Maoli group it is also related to the Tahitian (Ere'ere)

Genetic Group - AAB
Uses - desert banana
Brad Spaugh

spaugh

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Re: Banana Ele'Ele (black hawaiian)
« Reply #2 on: August 30, 2021, 10:06:16 AM »
Fruiting height at my house seems less than stated, at around 10-12ft. 
Brad Spaugh

JCorte

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Re: Banana Ele'Ele (black hawaiian)
« Reply #3 on: September 02, 2021, 10:54:49 AM »
Hi Brad,

If still available, I’ll take it.

Janet

jiminirvana

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Re: Banana Ele'Ele (black hawaiian)
« Reply #4 on: September 02, 2021, 01:35:19 PM »
Ill buy it and go pick it up