Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 3. Terrestrial Resources
Draft 1 March 2007
Maude (1952) estimated that there were 20 to 30 species of plants in the Phoenix Islands (see
also Knudsen 1965). The main species were ren, Tournefortia argentea, mao, Scaevola
frutescens, non, Morinda citrifolia, buka, Pisonia grandis, and kanawa, Cordia subcordata.
According to Maude (1952), the main grass was Lepturus repens, and thickets were of koura
bush, Sida fallax. The lagoon shore and salt flats were covered with pigweed (boi), Sesuvium
portulacastrum. Maude (1952) noted that each of the Phoenix Islands was different and had
a different mix of these plants.
Fosberg (1953) reported that the one of the most potent factors influencing vegetation in the
Phoenix Islands was the extreme fluctuation in rainfall from year to year. More than a year
can elapse with no rain at all.
Turbott (1954) reported that Portulaca (te boi) grew profusely on Manra, Orona, and
Nikumaroro. In the Gilbert Islands, it was considered an emergency food item, but it became
a stable for settlers in the Phoenix Islands. According to Turbott, Maude referred to it as
Sesuvium portulacastrum. New Zealand botanists identified it as Portulaca lutea. Chemical
analysis of a sample from Abariringa (Canton) provided in Table III-3.2 below.
Table III-3.2. Chemical composition of Portulaca lutea
(source: Turbott 1954).
Fresh (percent) Dried (percent)
Water 86.5 16.1
Protein (N x 6.25) 1.03 5.2
Ash 1.9 11.0
Fat (ether-soluble extract) 0.2 1.0
Crude Fiber 1.2 9.2
Ascorbic Acid (mg/1009) 10.9 3.3
Portulaca, therefore was an important source of vitamin C for settlers of the Phoenix Islands
(Turbott 1954).
Van Balgooy (1960, Table 4) lumped the Phoenix Islands with the Line Islands and Tokelau
and comparied the number of Phenerogam genera in that group with those of the Marshall,
Gilbert and Ellice Islands (combined). The first group (including the Phoenix Islands) had a
lower number of genera than the second group.
In 1973 and 1975, vascular plant collections were completed in all eight of the Phoenix
Islands (Fosberg et al n.d.). Both collections were made under the auspices of the U.S. Air
Force SAMTEC program. Fosberg et al (n.d.) provided a detailed narrative of plant species,
location of collected specimens, their habitats and specific locations on the Phoenix Islands.
This overview included both native and exotix plant species. Detailed information in Fosberg
et al (n.d.) was subsequently absorbed, summarized, and up-dated in Fosberg and Stoddart
(1994).
Dahl (1980) presented a matrix of terrestrial biomes. The Phoenix Islands were lumped with
the Line and Northern Cook Islands. These islands were classified as low islands. Biomes
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