Leguminosae. 
ever, that there are still tracts of land where the Koa forest is in its natural 
condition. As already mentioned, the Koa adapts itself to almost any 
environment. Ancient aa (rough) lava flows have been covered by Koa trees 
to the exclusion of everything else. It is on these lava fields that the trees are 
still in good condition, as cattle usually avoid crossing these sharp, rugged fields 
of lava. 
From the big trees found in Kona, Hawaii, the natives of by-gone days used 
to carve their great war canoes. Occasionally one can find an unfinished log 
which, owing to its enormous weight, was abandoned by the natives, who were 
unable to remove it to the lowlands and beach. Today the wood is used for 
furniture and is sold as Hawaiian mahogany, though, of course, it bears no 
relation to the tree of that name. The bark of the Koa was used by natives 
for tanning purposes. 
At lower elevations, as on Oahu on the windward side, Koa is associated 
with the screw pine (Pandanus odoratissimus), while at the middle forest zone, 
at 4000 feet, it is usually found in company with the Naio (Myoporum sand- 
wicense), Kolea (Suttonia), Metrosideros polymorpha, and Mamani (Sophora 
chrysophylla), while in the forks of its branches in accumulated humus flourish 
arborescent species of Lobelias of the genus Clermontia. 
The Koa is peculiar to the Hawaiian Islands, but is closely related to a 
species (Acacia heterophylla Willd.), in Mauritius and Bourbon; while Acacia 
laurifolia is a seaside tree in Viti and Samoa; the vernacular name in Viti is 
Tatakia, and in Samoa Tatakia or Tatagia. 
The Koa is attacked by several insects. A few lepidopterous insects feed on 
the Koa leaves, such as Scotorythra caryopis Meyr and S. idolias Meyr, which 
are often responsible for the defoliated Koa trees, as well as the S. rara (Bult.), 
the most common species of the genus. Of borers, several beetles live in the 
Koa trunks, such as Aegosomus, while the larvae of Thyrocopa alboonu- 
bila Walsm. are found in dead branches of Koa, as well as larvae of 7. abusa 
Walsm. on the bark and dead twigs. Besides, other lepidopterous insects may 
found in more or less decayed Koa trunks. 
Acacia Koaia Hbd. 
Koaia or Koa oha. 
a ae Hbd. Tl. Haw. Isl. (1888) 113;—Del Cast. Ill. Fl. Ins. Mar. Pacif, VI 
1890) 160. 
Leaves as in Koa; axillary racemes with not more than 3 heads, generally reduced 
to a single one; pod very narrow, not over 8 mm wide, and about 15.5 to 15 em long; 
otherwise as in Acacia Koa 
The Koaia, unlike the Koa, is a rather small tree, reaching a height of only 
20 to 25 feet. The trunk is not straight as in the Koa, but gnarled and twisted. 
The bark is rough and corrugated. It differs mainly from the Koa in its pods, 
which are very narrow, linear, while those of the Koa are broad. The leaves 
are the same as in the Koa. 
Weg 
