Family: Fabaceae

An invasive tree, native to Taiwan and the Philippine islands. Due to catastrophic erosion in the early 1900s, Acacia confusa was imported to stabilize the soil. The Sugar Planters Association, along with the Board of Agriculture, planted 300,000 trees. Acacia confusa is widely naturalized in dry areas on all the main Hawaiian Islands.

The Division of Forestry and Wildlife of the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources has designated this species as one of “Hawaiʻi’s Most Invasive Horticultural Plants.”

Description and Dispersal:

• A branched tree 20 - 50 ft tall, resembles the native Acacia koa
  
• Somewhat sickle shaped narrow leaves (4 in long by 1/3 in wide)
  
• Flower clusters of yellow balls (1/2 in); flat linear seed pods are green to brown (4 in long by 1/2 in wide)
  
• Spreads by seeds