Myrsine knudsenii in 2010. Myrsine knudsenii Myrsine knudsenii, the Kokee colicwood, is a species of tree in the primrose family. It is endemic to the island of Kauai in Hawaii. It is threatened by habitat loss. This is a shrub or tree growing up to 4.5 meters tall with flowers occurring in clusters along the branches. It grows in moist forests dominated by "Acacia koa", "Metrosideros polymorpha", and "Dicranopteris linearis". It probably once occurred in several other types of ecosystem. There are three populations left, for a total of about 30 trees. It was federally listed as an endangered species of the
Acacia koa survives best in pasture when planted under koa. This is because koa trees reduce radiative cooling, preventing frost damage to ōhia lehua seedlings. Koa is the preferred host plant for the caterpillars of the green Hawaiian blue ("Udara blackburni"), which eat the flowers and fruits. Adults drink nectar from the flowers. Koa sap is eaten by the adult Kamehameha butterfly ("Vanessa tameamea"). The koa bug ("Coleotichus blackburniae") uses its rostrum to suck the contents out of koa seeds. Koa is vulnerable to infection by koa wilt. Acacia koa Acacia koa is a species of flowering tree in the pea family,