Family: Fabaceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Intsia bijuga, commonly known as kwila or Pacific teak, is a large, slow-growing tropical hardwood tree native to coastal regions of Southeast Asia, Melanesia, and the Pacific Islands. It typically grows in lowland forests and along shorelines, developing a broad canopy and thick, buttressed trunk. Kwila is highly valued for its dense, durable, and termite-resistant wood, which ranges in color from golden brown to deep reddish hues. Because of its strength and resistance to decay, it is widely used for high-quality construction, flooring, furniture, carvings, and boat building. In traditional Pacific cultures, it has also been used for canoes and important structural elements.

Risks & Threats
Intsia bijuga is considered a low-risk species in Hawai‘i. It does not exhibit aggressive growth or invasive tendencies and is typically slow to reproduce and spread. While it can naturalize in suitable tropical environments, there is little evidence that it forms dense stands or displaces native vegetation. However, due to its large size and long lifespan, it should be planted thoughtfully in appropriate spaces. Overall, kwila poses minimal ecological threat and can be a suitable choice for landscaping or reforestation projects when managed responsibly.

High Risk Traits:

• Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions (clay, sandy, mangrove, saline, limestone)
  
• Nitrogen-fixing woody plant
  
• Produces viable seed
  
• Propagules dispersed intentionally by people (valued for wood/medicine)
  
• Forms a persistent seed bank (>1 year)

Low Risk Traits:

• No evidence of naturalization outside native range
  
• Not a weed (environmental, agricultural, or congeneric)
  
• No spines, thorns, or burrs
  
• Palatable to grazing animals
  
• No evidence of toxicity to animals or humans
  
• Not parasitic, allelopathic, or a fire hazard
  
• No climbing/smothering growth habit
  
• Does not form dense thickets
  
• Not adapted to wind, water, bird, or animal dispersal (seeds lack specialized structures)
  
• No vegetative fragmentation