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 of their electric guitars as well, and still uses a koa-veneered topwood on certain models. Fender made limited edition koa wood models of the Telecaster and the Stratocaster in 2006. Trey Anastasio, guitarist for the band Phish, primarily uses a koa hollowbody Languedoc guitar. Commercial silviculture of koa takes 20 to 25 years before a tree is of useful size. Among other Pacific Islands of volcanic (non-continental) origin, only Vanuatu has native "Acacia" species. "A. heterophylla", from distant Réunion, is very similar and has been suggested to be the closest relative of koa. Genetic sequence analysis results announced in 2014