Ngā Rauropi Whakaoranga

kāeo

sea tulip

The wrinkly body is attached to a long tough stalk. Commonly found with bladder kelp on South Island coasts.

"Kaio [sic.] ... is a well-known curiosity - half plant, half animal - that was eaten by the Maori... My informant said "The kaio fastens one end of itself to the rocks and the other end is like a spud. You take this knob and soak it all night and eat it."  A European who has boiled and eaten them says, 'They taste like a boiled egg flavoured with oil, and have a very good flavour. The taste must, however, be acquired' "(Beattie 1920)