Hibiscadelphus giffardianus viscosa"), and naio ("Myoporum sandwicense"). "H. giffardianus" is a small tree, reaching a height of and trunk diameter of . Hibiscadelphus giffardianus Hibiscadelphus giffardianus (Kilauea hau kuahiwi) is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family, Malvaceae, that is endemic to the Big Island of Hawaii. It is believed to be extinct in the wild; any remaining plants are threatened by habitat loss. Cultivated plants exist in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. It inhabits mixed mesic forests on the slopes of Mauna Loa at elevations of . Associated plants include ōhia lehua ("Metrosideros polymorpha"), koa ("Acacia koa"), mānele ("Sapindus saponaria"),
Acacia koa confirmed this close relationship; the estimated time of divergence is about 1.4 million years ago. "A. heterophylla" sequences nest within those of the more diverse "A. koa", making the latter paraphyletic. Both species are thought to be descended from an ancestral species in Australia, presumably their sister species, "Acacia melanoxylon". Dispersals most likely occurred via seed-carrying by birds such as petrels. Both species have very similar ecological niches, which differ from that of "A. melanoxylon". A closely related species, koaia or koaie ("A. koaia"), is found in dry areas. It is most easily distinguished by having smaller seeds that are