Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 3. Terrestrial Resources
Draft 1 March 2007
that were present included: semi-deciduous forests, mangrove forests, scrub, bog, grassland,
freshwater marsh, and permanent lake.
Fosberg and Stoddart (1994) reviewed the flora of the Phoenix Islands and noted that there
were 87 species in 36 families. However, only 28 species (32 percent) were considered
native. An additional 60 species were recorded in the literature, but many of these species
have not survived.
Fosberg and Stoddart (1994) noted that large numbers of plant species were introduced
during the colonization scheme and the military and aviation periods. Most exotic species
could not exist without the assistance of man. Weeds have been brought in accidentally and
have persisted, including Cenchrus echinatus, Eleusine indica, Portulaca oleracea,
Euphorbia hirta, E. hypericifolia, Pluchea carolinensis, P. indica, Tridax procumbens,
and Vernonia cinerea.
Fosberg and Stoddart (1994) provided a detail discussion of each species recorded for the
Phoenix Islands. A summary of plant species reported and discussed in Fosberg and Stoddart
(1994) is provided in Table III-3.3.
Dalzell et al (1996) noted that mangroves were absent from the Phoenix Islands.
Mueller-Dombois and Fosberg (1998) reported that there were 15 more or less definable
natural vegetation types or communities in the Phoenix Islands. These included the
following:
1) Pisonia grandis forest - Nikumaroro (Gardner), Orona (Hull);
2) Cordia subcordata ( te ango)forest and tall scrub – Manra (Sydney),
Abariringa (Canton), Enderbury.
3) Scaevola taccada (te mao )scrub – Manra (Sydney), Nikumaroro (Gardner),
Orona (Hull), Abariringa (Canton).
4) Tournefortia argentea (te ren ) scrub – Enderbury, Abariringa (Canton).
5) Morinda citrifolia tall scrub – Nikumaroro (Gardner), Manra (Sydney), Orona
(Hull).
6) Pemphis acidula (te ngea) scrub – Orona (Hull).
7) Suriana maritima scrub – Abariringa (Canton), Orona (Hull).
8) Sida fallax(te kaura) scrub and dwarf scrub – All Phoenix Islands.
9) Triumfetta procumbens (te kiaou) mat – Abariringa (Canton), Enderbury.
10) Sesuvium portulacastrum var. griseum mat – All Phoenix Islands.
11) Tribulus cistoides mat – No Phoenix Island named.
12) Lepturus repens and Lepturus pilgerianus meadows – All Phoenix Islands.
13) Fimbristylis cymosa(te uteute ni mwane) turf – Nikumaroro (Gardner), Manra
(Sydney), Orona (Hull).
14) Digitaria pacifica bunchgrass cover – No Phoenix Island named.
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