 |
|
Forest Starr & Kim Starr starrenvironmental.com |
 |
Forest Starr & Kim Starr starrenvironmental.com |
Translate this page:
Summary
Closely related to koa (A. koa), and is sometimes considered to be the same species. Acacia koaia is usually distinguished by growing as a short (rarely more than 5 m or 16 ft), broad, gnarled tree; having the seeds longitudinally arranged in the pod; shorter, straighter phyllodes; and much denser wood. It has been devastated by cattle and other ungulates and is now rare.
Physical Characteristics

Acacia koaia is an evergreen Tree growing to 5 m (16ft) by 5 m (16ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
It can fix Nitrogen.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
No synonyms are recorded for this name.
Habitats
Edible Uses
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Native Hawaiians used ground leaves and bark with 'au'auko'i (Senna occidentalis) and kikania pipili (Desmodium sandwicense) stalks to treat diseased skin. The mixture was then hydrated and used in a steam bath.
References More on Medicinal Uses
Now available: PLANTS FOR YOUR FOOD FOREST: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.
An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.
Read More
Other Uses
Carbon Farming Solutions - Agroforestry Services: nitrogen, crop shade (Agroforestry is a land-use management system in which trees or shrubs are grown around or among crops or pastureland). The wood of koai'a is harder and denser than that of koa. It was used to make la'au melomelo (fishing lures), hoe (paddles), ihe (short spears), pololu (long spears), 'o'o (digging sticks), 'i'e kuku (square kapa beaters), and papa olona (Touchardia latifolia scrapers). Koai'a leaves were used to cover hale lau koai'e (shelters and permanent sheds).
Special Uses
Carbon Farming
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Agroforestry Services: Crop shade Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen Management: Standard Regional Crop
Climate: tropical, tropical highlands. Humidity: semi-arid to humid. Highly adapted to dry habitats, and is capable of forming dense forests in areas with very little rainfall. A. koaia has been severely impacted by ranching, agriculture and fires started by humans. Other threats to the species are feral goats and pigs, deer, and invasive alien plants. Carbon Farming Solutions - Cultivation: regional crop. Management: standard (Describes the non-destructive management systems that are used in cultivation) [1-1].
Carbon Farming
-
Agroforestry Services: Crop shade
Plants providing crop shade especially trees.
-
Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen
Plants that contribute to nitrogen fixation include the legume family – Fabaceae.
-
Management: Standard
Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
-
Regional Crop
These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
The PFAF Bookshop
Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.
Shop Now
Propagation
The seed of most, if not all, members of this genus has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing to speed up germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing. Once treated, seeds are sown in nursery beds. 1 week after germination, seedlings are transplanted into nursery tubes or bags. Seedlings are ready for transplanting into the field when they are approximately 20cm tall, (after 3-4 months in the nursery). Establishment by direct seeding or encouragement of natural regeneration is recommended as heart rot occurs during transplanting. One study recommends air-layering as the best vegetative propagation technique. The seeds are durable and easy to store. They germinate after many years of storage if kept in a cool, dry place. The most effective method for improving seed germination is mechanical scarification. However, hot water soaking works well and is a more practical method, seed should be soaked in boiled water for 24 hours. Seeds are seldom dispersed far from the tree and remain viable in the soil for up to 25 years.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Acacia koaia, known as koai?a or koai?e in Hawaiian.
Native Plant Search
Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search
Found In
Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available
Hawaii, United States.
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
None Known
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Status: Vulnerable B1ab(i,ii,iii).
Related Plants
|
Latin Name | Common Name | Habit | Height | Hardiness | Growth | Soil | Shade | Moisture | Edible | Medicinal | Other |
Acacia aneura | Mulga Acacia | Tree | 15.0 |
8-11
| S | LM | N | DM | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Acacia angustissima | Prairie acacia. Timbre. Fernleaf Acacia | Tree | 5.0 |
7-10
| F | LMH | N | DM | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Acacia auriculiformis | Ear-Pod Wattle, Black Acacia, Earleaf, Black wattle | Tree | 25.0 |
10-12
| F | LMH | N | DM | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Acacia catechu | Cutch tree, Catechu acacia | Tree | 15.0 |
10-12
| F | LMH | N | DM | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Acacia colei | Cole's wattle, Candelabra Wattle, Soap wattle, | Shrub | 4.0 |
10-12
| F | LMH | N | DM | 3 | 2 | 3 |
Acacia concinna | Shikakai, Soap-Pod | Tree | 10.0 |
10-11
| M | LM | N | D | 2 | 1 | 4 |
Acacia coriacea | Wiry Wattle, Acacia, Leather Leaf | Tree | 5.0 |
9-11
| M | LMH | SN | DM | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Acacia cowleana | Hall’s Creek wattle | Tree | 5.0 |
10-12
| F | LM | N | DM | 3 | 2 | 3 |
Acacia cultriformis | Knife-Leaf Wattle, Knife acacia | Shrub | 4.0 |
9-11
| S | LMH | N | DM | 2 | 0 | 3 |
Acacia dealbata | Mimosa, Silver wattle | Tree | 25.0 |
7-10
| F | LM | N | DM | 2 | 0 | 3 |
Acacia decurrens | Green Wattle | Tree | 12.0 |
6-9
| F | LM | N | DM | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Acacia farnesiana | Sweet Acacia, Perfume Acacia, Huisache | Shrub | 9.0 |
9-11
| F | LMH | N | DM | 2 | 2 | 4 |
Acacia holosericea | Strap wattle, Candelabra wattle | Shrub | 3.0 |
10-12
| F | LMH | N | M | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Acacia koa | Koa Acacia | Tree | 20.0 |
10-12
| F | LMH | N | DM | 0 | 2 | 3 |
Acacia leucophloea | Kuteera-Gum, White-barked acacia. | Tree | 25.0 |
10-12
| M | LMH | N | DM | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Acacia longifolia | Sydney Golden Wattle, Acacia | Tree | 9.0 |
10-11
| M | L | N | DM | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Acacia mearnsii | Black Wattle, Late black wattle | Tree | 10.0 |
8-11
| F | LM | N | M | 1 | 3 | 4 |
Acacia melanoxylon | Blackwood, Australia Acacia, Black Acacia, Blackwood Acacia | Tree | 30.0 |
9-11
| F | LM | N | DM | 2 | 1 | 4 |
Acacia mucronata | Narrow-Leaf Wattle | Tree | 9.0 |
7-10
| | L | N | DM | 2 | 0 | 3 |
Acacia murrayana | Murray’s wattle, Colony wattle | Tree | 5.0 |
10-12
| F | LMH | N | DM | 3 | 2 | 3 |
Acacia paradoxa | Kangaroo Thorn, Paradox acacia | Shrub | 5.0 |
7-10
| | LMH | N | DM | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Acacia podalyriifolia | Queensland Silver Wattle, Pearl wattle | Tree | 3.0 |
7-10
| | LM | N | DM | 1 | 0 | 3 |
Acacia pycnantha | Golden Wattle | Tree | 8.0 |
7-10
| F | L | N | DM | 2 | 0 | 3 |
Acacia retinodes | Swamp Wattle, Water wattle | Tree | 6.0 |
7-10
| | LM | N | DM | 2 | 0 | 3 |
Acacia saligna | Blue-Leaved Wattle, Orange wattle | Shrub | 6.0 |
7-10
| F | LMH | N | DM | 1 | 0 | 5 |
Acacia sophorae | Coastal Wattle, Acacia | Shrub | 0.0 |
0-0
| | LMH | N | DM | 2 | 0 | 3 |
Acacia verticillata | Prickly Moses | Shrub | 6.0 |
7-10
| | LMH | N | DM | 1 | 0 | 3 |
Acacia victoriae | Bramble wattle. Gundabluey, Bardi bush | Shrub | 10.0 |
8-11
| F | LMH | N | DM | 4 | 2 | 3 |
Arracacia xanthorrhiza | Peruvian Parsnip, Arracacha | Perennial | 1.0 |
8-11
| | M | SN | M | 4 | 0 | 0 |
|
|
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
Hillebr
Botanical References
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
Readers comment
Add a comment |
If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at admin@pfaf.org. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.
* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.
To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.
|
|