Kestrel

Why Kestrel is the bicolour. The brief allowed Kestrel or another bicolour, picking the one that stands out most. Mayan Twilight (SCRI, about 2008) is the more striking photo, with big red patches on a yellow skin and red-marked flesh. It was rejected for three reasons. This set already has five red or pink skins. It is a Phureja-group variety bred from Andean material, which sits close to the Andean consultation rule in docs/decisions.md. And the "Mayan" series name is a marketing name of the breeder's agent (Greenvale AP) that borrows a Mesoamerican people's name for an Andean potato. Kestrel's cream-and-purple skin is the only pale-with-purple body in the set, and it sits between the pale yellows and the blues.

What it looks like. An even, smooth, long-oval tuber about 1.45 times as long as wide, with cream skin splashed blue-purple around the eyes and the rose end, and cream flesh. In the photo, cream skin samples #9D8758 and the purple patch #4C2932 under dim grey light; lifted to #E3D3A8 and #7A3A5A. Cut flesh samples #9A8F70, lifted to #EFE3BF.

History. Bred by Jack Dunnett of Caithness Potato Breeders in the far north of Scotland, released in 1992, from Cara crossed with a breeding seedling carrying the wild species Solanum vernei. Why vernei was used is not stated in the sources. A modern show and garden variety. Jack Dunnett is a private breeder; told as fact only, never portrayed.

Body facts that carry story. Gardeners say slugs leave it alone. Tough against knocks and bruising. Marked only where it sprouts: the colour sits at the eyes.