PILIKO‘A

'PILIKO‘A'

Status: No Known Specimens

Background information: This name literally means "coral clinging" and refers to several reef hawkfish (Paracirrhites fosteria, Cirrhitops fasciatus, and Amblycirrhitus bimacula) that are red or light pink. 'Piliko‘a' also indicates a stiff, pink seaweed (Galaxaura lapidescens) also sometimes called pākalakala.

Historical Description: The stalks of this cane are reported by Moir to be yellow-green with pale brown-red stripes when young, changing to deep bronze yellow with dark brown-red stripes. The sheaths and leaves were green and the flesh was colored in segments to match the outer rind.

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