Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 3. Terrestrial Resources
Draft 1 March 2007
There were two clumps of mangroves, a few coconut trees, and scattered patches of grass on
Enderbury (Hydrographer of the Navy 1969).
Fosberg et al (1973) listed exotic plant species on Enderbury. These included:
1) Sand bur, Cenchrus echinatus,
2) Common purslane, Portulaca oleracea,
3) Groose-grass, Eleusine indica, and
4) Sedge, Fimbristrylis cymosa.
Fosberg et al (1973) recommended elimination of these introduced species, especially while
introductions were still restricted in area.
Bryan (1974) presented a list of native plant species for Abariringa (Canton) and Enderbury
(see Table III-3.8 above).
In 1975, there were several coconut seedlings remaining near the U.S. Air Force temporary
installation on the northwest corner of Enderbury (Garnett 1983). However, all coconut trees
reported by Bryan (1942) had died out (Garnett 1983).
Garnett (1983) provided a list of plant species on Enderbury. Twenty three species were
listed including:
1) Ruppia maritima,
2) Cenchrus echinatus,
3) Digitaria pacifica,
4) Eragrostis whitneyi,
5) Lepturus pilgerianus,
6) Lepturus repens,
7) Fimbristylis cymosa,
8) Cocos nucifera,
9) Laportea ruderalis,
10) Boerhavia albiflora,
11) Pisonia grandis,
12) Sesuvium portulacastrum,
13) Portulaca lutea,
14) Portulaca oleracea,
15) Cassytha filiformis,
16) Tribulus cistoides,
17) Euphorbia hirata,
18) Triumfetta procumbens,
19) Sida fallax,
20) Ipomoea macrantha,
21) Cordia subcordata,
22) Messerschmidia argentea,
23) Scaevola taccada.
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 above.
In 1995, there were only two coconut trees on Enderbury (Government of Kiribati 1995).
Both were healthy and bore fruits. Sixty coconuts were planted adjacent to these trees. An
addition 40 to 60 coconuts were planted on the north end of Enderbury.
In 1995, several other species of plants were observed on Enderbury (Government of Kiribati
1995). These included: Pisonia grandis (te buka), Tournefortia argentea (te ren), Scaevola
taccada (te mao), te mtea, te booi, te wao and Sida fallax (te kaura).
In January 2000, Cordia subcordata thickets were dense (Kepler 2000).
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