Acacia heterophylla Acacia heterophylla Acacia heterophylla, the highland tamarind, is a tree (or shrub in its higher places) endemic to Réunion island where it is commonly named tamarin des hauts The tree has a juvenile stage where its leaves have a pinnate arrangement, but in the adult stage the leaves diminish and the phyllode becomes the dominant photosynthetic structure. It has been introduced into Madagascar where it grows in a subhumid climate at an altitude of about 500–1000 m above sea level. Genetic sequence analysis has shown its closest relative is "Acacia koa" of Hawaii; the estimated time of divergence is about
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,