Koa-1
Koa-1
Koa (Acacia koa) is one of the two dominant hardwoods in Hawaiian forests. They grow at middle to high elevations. Under ideal conditions individual trees can be massive!
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 Large koa trees from the Big Island can be massive!!!!! |
The immature leaves are large, delicate and complex. They resemble those of Mimosa. The mature Leaf develops from the central axis (Rachis) of the leaf. It is small, thick and leathery & has the shape of a scythe.
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| Juvenile Koa Leaf: This leaf is pinnate compound. It has a central axis (Rachis) which is branched like a feather. Each branch has tiny leaflets. | Mature Koa Leaf: The mature leaf develops from the Rachis alone. It fails to branch or produce leaflets. |
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| Two stages in the transition from a true Leaf with many leaflets to a sickle-shaped Phyllode. | |
 Young Koa with scythe-like mature Phyllodes.A phyllode looks and acts like a leaf but it is not considered to be a true leaf. The koa phyllode is leathery and thick. These traits allow koa to grow in stressful environments. |
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