Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 3. Terrestrial Resources
Draft 1 March 2007
The reason for introducing plants to cover the bear soil on Abariringa (Canton) were two fold
(Degener and Gillaspy 1955). First vegetative cover would stablize the soil and keep it from
blowing away and damaging equipment. The second reason is to minimize health risks of
dust and glare off the sand to people stationed there.
Degener and Gillapsy (1955) provide a detailed discussion about plant species and plant
communities on Abariringa (Canton). Species of plants noted and discussed were as follows:
1) Pandanus tectorius
36) Chamaesyce hypericifolia
2) Cenchrus echinatus
37) Chamaesyce prostrate
3) Chloris inflata
38) Chamaesyce hirta
4) Cynodon dactylon
39) Phyllanthus niruri
5) Digitaria pacifica
40) Poinsettia cyathophora
6) Digitaria timorensis
41) Triumfetta procumbens
7) Eleusine indica
42) Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
8) Eragrostis amabilis
43) Hibiscus tiliaceum
9) Eragrostis whitneyi
44) Pariti tiliaceum
10) Eragrostis pectinacea
45) Sida carpinifolia
11) Lepturus pilgerianus
46) Sida fallax
12) Lepturus repens
47) Thespesia populnea
13) Panicum miliaceum
48) Calophyllum inophyllum
14) Setaria verticillata
49) Tamarix aphylla
15) Cyperus rotundus
50) Passifloa foetida
16) Fimbristylis diphylla
51) Carica papaya
17) Fimbristylis pycnocephala 52) Terminalia samoensis
18) Cocos nucifera
53) Terminalia catappa
19) Anthurium sp.
54) Polyscias guilfoylei
20) Philodendron sp.
55) Plumeria rubra
21) Crinum asiaticum
56) Ochrosia sp.
22) Musa nana
57) Calotropis gigantea
23) Casuarina equisetifolia 58) Calonyction sp.
24) Casuarina glauca
59) Ipomoea pes-caprae
25) Coccoloba uvifera
60) Cordia sebestena
26) Amarantus dubius
61) Cordia subcordata
27) Boerhavia tetrandra
62) Messerschmidia argentea
28) Sesuvium portulacastrum var. 63) Lycopersicum esculentum
griseum
64) Nicotiana glauca
29) Portulaca cleracea
65) Physalis angulata
30) Portulaca lutea
66) Morinda citrifolia
31) Cassytha filiformis
67) Cucumis melo
32) Leucaena glauca
68) Scaevola frutescens
33) Tribulus cistoides
69) Pluchea indica
34) Suriana maritima
70) Emilia sonchifolia
35) Acalypha wilkesiana
Degener and Gillaspy (1955) also provided a list of over 125 plant species that had been
introduced to Abariringa (Canton) in 1950.
Degener and Gillaspy (1955) also reported on aquatic plants from Abariringa (Canton). The
blue-green algae species included: Microcoleus paludosus, Porphyrosiphon sp., and
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