Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 3. Terrestrial Resources
Draft 1 March 2007
McIntire (1960) noted that more recent coconut tree plantings were completed by British and
American settlements. These trees were 6.1 to 7.6 m (20 to 25 ft) tall, but required some care
to survive. In addition, there were several small flowering plants that had been introduced.
These could not survive without human assistance. The seagrape, Coccoloba uvifera, had
also been introducted perhaps 11 years prior (McIntire 1960).
There were also some accidental introductions to Abariringa (Canton) (McIntire 1960).
Many weeds, including the sandbur, Cenchrus echinatus, have been introduced.
McIntire (1960) reported that the blue-green algae, Microcoleus paludosus, as well as
Porphyrosiphon sp., and Scytonema hofmannii were sand binders. These were dormant
during dry season.
Borden (1961) reported that Abariringa (Canton) was treeless.
Degener (1961) reported introducing the white-fruied Scaevola from Oahu to Abariringa
(Canton). When the seeds germinated, Degener (1961) compared the resultant plants with
native specimens of Scaevola. The Hawaiian plant was named S. sericea var. faurier, but
Degener (1961) deferred naming the variety from Abariringa (Canton).
Office of Territories (1963) noted that 500 coconut palms had recently been planted on
Abariringa (Canton).
Cooperrider and Galang (1965) identified a sterile hybrid of Pluchea indica x P. odorata
(Compositae-Inulease) after examining a variety of specimens including one from Abariringa
(Canton) that was collected in 1958 that was originally identified as P. indica.
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