Silvical characteristics of Koa (Acacia koa Gray)

Author:

Whitesell, Craig D.

Title:

Silvical characteristics of Koa (Acacia koa Gray)

Year:

1964

Pages:

12 p.

Subject:

Koa

Summary:

Koa (Acacia koa Gray) is considered the most valuable common native timber species in Hawaii. From the time of the early Hawaiians, this tree has been prized for its exceptionally fine wood. Koa has curly grain, striking coloration, and takes a high polish. It grows on each of the six main islands, but the only extensive forests remaining are on the island of Hawaii. It occurs in nearly pure stands, or in admixtures with ohia (Metrosideros polymorpha Guad.). Other tree species are of limited occurrence in these forests. A large evergreen hardwood tree endemic to the State, koa belongs to the thornless, phyllodinous group of the genus Acacia, subfamily Mimosaceae of the Leguminosae. Koa forests must have been much more extensive in the past than they are today. Land clearing, poor cutting practices, and destruction by animals, insects (33), and fire (18, 25) have all taken a toll. Koa forest land in the State now totals about 50,000 acres, ohia-koa forests about 150,-000 acres. Volume of koa sawtimber totals about 121 million board feet (35).

URL:

http://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/28712

Collection:

Monographs