Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 3. Terrestrial Resources
Draft 1 March 2007
Van Zwaluwenburg (1941) noted that coconut trees might not be considered native as all
coconut trees that were present were planted. The most conspicuous vegetation included
Cordia (kou), Tournefortia (tree heliotrope), and Scaevola bushes.
Van Zwaluwenburg (1941) reported that soil was imported from Hawaii and caused the
introduction of weeds such as Emilia sonchifollia, three species of Euphorbia, Leucaena
glauca, nutgrass and amaranth. A few grasses including Bermuda grass have also been
introduced with imported soils.
Daniel (1943) noted that Abariringa (Canton) was covered with stunted vegetation. In the
southern end a few coconut palms grew.
Williams (1945) noted that the large noctuid moth, Achaea janata, was reared from Cordia
subcordata on Abariringa (Canton) by Langford and Van Zwalunwenburg.
Between 1946 and 1950, the Civil Aviation Authority brought in several hundred coconut
spouts for planting on Abariringa (Canton) (Wright 1951).
In 1950 to 1951, there was a program to introduce plants to Abariringa (Canton) (McIntire
1960). Many of the introduced plants did not survive. However, some did, and now grow in
many places on the island (particularly on the western part). According to Degener and
Gillaspy (1955), between 1950 and 1951 Otto Degener introduced 129 species of plants to
Abariringa (Canton) (see also Fosberg and Stoddart 1994; Fosberg et al n.d.). Of the 129
species, only 14 persisted until 1973 and only two, Coccolaba uvifera and Conocarpus
erecta, were able to spread out (Fosberg and Stoddart 1994; see also Fosberg et al n.d.).
Plant surveys were conducted in 1949 and 1950 (Luomala 1951). Dr. Luomala, University
of Hawaii, completed field studies and wrote a report on the plants of Abariringa (Canton)
(according to Anon. 1952; see Luomala 1951). Fifty eight species of flowering plants and
one seaweed were included in Luomala’s report. Luomala (1951) reported 18 species of
plants that were native to Arbariringa (Canton) according to Knudsen (1965). These included
the following species:
1) Digitaria pacifica,
2) Eragrostis whitneyi,
3) Lepturus repens,
4) Cocos nucifera,
5) Boerhaavia diffusa,
6) Sesuvium portulacastrum,
7) Portulaca lutea,
8) Cassytha filiformis,
9) Tribulus cistoides,
10) Suriana maritima,
11) Triumfetta procumbens,
12) Sida fallax,
13) Ipomoea pes-caprae,
14) Ipomoca grandiflora (I. tuba),
15) Cordia subcordata,
16) Tournefortia argentea,
17) Morinda citrifolia, and
18) Scaevola frustescens.
Halstead (1950) noted that there was a small grove of coconut trees on the south side of
Abariringa (Canton) that were struggling to survive.
In 1950 and 1951, floral and vegetative surveys were conducted on Abariringa (Canton)
(Hatheway 1955). Native flora consisted of 14 species of vascular plants. In addition, about
150 plant species had been introduced. Native vascular flora was primarily confined to parts
of Abariringa (Canton) that have not been subject to grading or other anthropogenic
influences (Hatheway 1955).
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