BRASH (HC 27)

All Main Image Stalk Color Internode Bud Leaf Flesh Tassel Growth
Main Image

Main Image

‘Brash’ (HC 27)

Status: Held in Collections

Background Information: This cane was introduced into the modern ethnobotanical collections by Dr. Adrianne Brash from Tantalus, O‘ahu. Dr. Brash claimed this to be a native Hawaiian variety. Observations show that this cane is morphologically identical to HC 27. HC, standing for Hawaiian Cane, is a name typically given to unknown native varieties. However, both genetic tests and morphological features (such as the long, pointed auricle and heavy wax bloom) indicate that this is not a Hawaiian variety but is likely an early hybrid variety.

Identifying Characteristics: Stalks are dark purple and heavily coated in wax. Several distinctive features, including only 2–3 rows of eyes in root band, a dark purple dewlap, and long, pointed auricle occurring at the dewlap.

Stalk Color

Stalk Color

Purple or dark purple, occasionally bronze or light olive green; wax bloom medium to heavy

Internode

Internode

Variable, often concave, can be slightly barreled; bud furrow absent or weakly expressed; wax band difficult to discern beneath the heavy wax bloom, very wide, olive green when wax removed; growth ring dark purple or rarely green; root band dark purple or rarely green, 2–3 rows of eyes

Bud

Bud

Purple or rarely olive green, broadly ovate, fat and round; lightly pubescent; bud wing broad, truncate tip, attached low on bud

Leaf

Leaf

Erect with drooping tips, moderate length, moderate/narrow width, module 24:1–28:1, well-spaced, sparse, noticeably crinkled surfaces, often have white or yellow splotching near base, tend to drop off cane, exposing stalk; sheath light green, flushed with rose or purple from the base, moderately waxy, moderately hairy; dewlap purple, often wax coated to appear grey, strongly squarish-deltoid; outer auricle transitional, occasionally with sparse long hair group; inner auricle distinctive, long lanceolate, narrow and pointed

Flesh

Flesh

Light brown or brown

Tassel

Tassel

Not observed

Growth

Growth

Semi-erect, tall, thin to medium thickness, ratoons well, produces many well-spaced stalks

Growth

Growth

Stalk Color

Stalk Color

Internode

Internode

Leaf

Leaf

Leaf

Leaf

Leaf

Leaf

Leaf

Leaf

Internode

Internode

Internode

Internode

Stalk Color

Stalk Color

Leaf

Leaf

Leaf

Leaf

Leaf

Leaf

Bud

Bud

Growth

Growth

Leaf

Leaf

  • Information

Status: No Known Specimens

Background Information: ‘Ainakea literally means “white (kea) pith/bagasse (‘aina)” or “white land (‘?ina).” According to Fornander this name refers to a particular episode in Hawaiian mythology: K?‘ula and K?ne, two powerful akua, practiced their sorcery on the people of Honua‘ula, Maui, and left the bodies of the dead strewn about and exposed. The duo added further insult by snacking on sugarcane grown by the victims to quench their thirst; since this time the cane has been called ‘Ainakea in reference to the white bones left bleaching in the sun. However, many l?‘au lapa‘au sources indicate that the name refers to the flesh of the cane, which is said to be the whitest of all Hawaiian canes – a particularly rare trait for a dark-skinned variety. An alternative name, Laenihi, refers generally to high-headed labroid fish of the genera Hemipteronotus and Iniistius. Another name, P?kea, is a quantifying term applied to Laenihi that refers to a whitish coloration and was used to denote a specific species of fish. ‘Ainakea was one of the few canes used in medicinal concoctions by the kahuna h?h?, and was important in the treatments for p?‘ao‘ao, ‘ea, hilo, and waiki.

Historical Description: ‘Ainakea is said to be [DE1] one of the prettiest Hawaiian canes, similar in appearance to ‘?hi‘a when it is young but lightening in color as it grows. It was often said to be one of the best-producing native cane varieties and was popular cane home gardens, particularly in dry and lowland areas.

Stalk Color

 

The stalks are described by Moir as “maroon-red and striped with apple-green when young, and changing to purplish-red and yellow when mature”; by Fornander as “red with long white stripes”; and by Spencer as “a ribbon cane, green and purple.” Alternatively, Ka‘aiakamanu compares it to Manulele (a striped cane), and states that the stalks were “dark reddish as the p?polo liquid.”

 

Authored by: Noa Kekuewa Lincoln.  
Please properly cite any use of information or graphics from this page. 

Lincoln, N. (2017) Kō: An Ethnobotanical Guide to Hawaiian Sugarcane Varieties. 
Retrieved from: http://cms.ctahr.hawaii.edu/cane/Home.aspx