Ngā Rauropi Whakaoranga

REKAMĀROA, mānawa (Ruatoria and East Coast), tokauu (Bay of Plenty), toriana (Bay of Plenty). All recorded in Yen 1963 

Kūmara cultivar, considered to be of pre-European origin.

Ticotea type (using system devised by H. C. Thompson 1922 and 1957)

Yen 508. Sent to Japan by Dr. Yen in 1966 for safe keeping. Returned 19 November 1988. This variety also donated to Pū Hao Rangi Māori Trust, Auckland by Mr. Huntly Horn, Halswell, Canterbury.

In Yen 1963: 33-35. Detailed description of the cultivar (leaves, roots) is given. Illustrated by drawings. Roots are white, smooth, usually long and cylindrical but variable, 5-6 per plant, flesh white. Only slightly sweet, dry and mealy, firm textured. Said to be used for kao (dried kūmara meal). Very susceptible to the fungous disease "scurf". Stores exceptionally well.

Yen recorded the distribution as general East Coast, Bay of Plenty, Northland, West Coast of North Island.

Yen collected mutants from this variety - leaves were different but roots similar if sometimes lower yielding. Plants still recognized as Rekamāroa by informants. ".

Listed in Berridge 1913: 415 as one of the varieties grown from tuber by "an old Māori" informant. Berridge describes the variety as "somewhat similar to Uti-uti, but makes far more vine, and the tuber is sweeter. White flesh: deeply lobed or cut foliage" (p.418)

Colenso 1880 and Best 1925 don"t list Rekamāroa; Colenso lists "Tokouu" as a Hawkes Bay and East Coast variety, and Best records "Tokoū" or "Tukau".

See also information from Tapsell.