STRIPED BAMBOO

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

Main Image

 'STRIPED BAMBOO' ('Big Ribbon,' 'Striped Cheribon')

Status: Held in Collections

Background Information: John Balaz donated this Noble Cane to the ethnobotanical collections under the idea that it was a Hawaiian cane. However, this cultivar appears to be identical to an early introduction known as 'Big Ribbon' or 'Striped Cheribon' cane, which was common worldwide as an heirloom variety that produced well in plantation agriculture. After 'Lāhainā' had succumbed to red-rot fungus and declined in production, this was the world’s most prevalent Noble Cane grown.

Identifying Characteristics: This is a uniquely colored cane, with deep rose stalks striped with a deeper reddish brown. Root band is much lighter, often green and yellow, with roots eyes colored slightly purple.

Stalk Color

Stalk Color

very deep rose striped with muddy purple or buff brown; occasionally yellow striped with semi-translucent olive green; wax bloom very sparse to light

Internode

Internode

cylindrical or slightly conoidal; bud furrow strongly marked, deep, may be short or long; wax band medium broad, prominent; growth ring striped like stalk, yellower, tumscent; root band striped like stalk, much lighter, so often yellow and green striped, 3–4 rows of well-spaced eyes, eyes colored muddy purple

Bud

Bud

green and purple, large, deltoid, moderate to heavy pubescence, distinct long tuft of hair extending from behind the tip, consistent hair group along the bottom edge; bud wing purple, medium broad, inserted near the center of the bud

Leaf

Leaf

drooped, long length, medium width, module 22:1–26:1, occasionally mildly variegated; sheath green, mildly variegated with white, moderately to heavily waxy, moderately to heavily hairy; dewlap yellow or green, often ringed with pink or purple, deltoid or double-crescent deltoid; outer auricle transitional with a dense tuft of short to moderate-length hairs; inner auricle small, rounded, occurring at the dewlap

Flesh

Flesh

brown

Tassel

Tassel

not observed

Growth

Growth

semi-erect

  • 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