Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 3. Terrestrial Resources
Draft 1 March 2007
Although it did not survive the initial introduction, pandanus was re-introducted to Manra
(Sydney) in 1950 (Knudsen 1965 and 1977). This second introduction was successful
(Knudsen 1977).
The remainder of the island was covered in bush and shrubs that are 4.6 to 9.1 m (15 to 30 ft)
high (see also Hydrographer of the Navy 1969). The forest was composed of Tournefortia,
Pisonia, Morinda, Cordia, Guettarda, and Scaevola. Portulaca, an edible plant grew wild on
the Manra (Sydney). It became a main dietary item of early settlers (Knudsen 1977).
Heavy rains after drought periods raised the level of the lake at the center of Manra (Sydney)
and killed many of the new coconut trees that had been planted with the salt water (Knudsen
1977). According to Luke (1962), one of the reasons for having to resettle inhabitants of
Manra (Sydney) was because the soil on Manra (Sydney) was too salty for coconut trees.
In 1973, there was a dead zone of vegetation immediately boarding the lagoon (Garnett
1983). This zone was between 20 to 300 m wide. All plants within the zone were dead. In
1975, some small plants were observed indicating a recovery. Garnett (1983) speculated that
flooding of the hypersaline lagoon caused the dead zone.
Garnett (1983) reported that the coconut trees planted in the 1880s still dominated the
western end of the island.
Garnett (1983) noted the following species of plants on Manra (Sydney):
1) Pandanus tectorius
2) Cenchrus echinatus,
3) Eragrostis tenella,
4) Eragrostis whitneyi,
5) Lepturus pilgerianus,
6) Lepturus repens,
7) Cyperus javanicus,
8) Fimbristylis cymosa,
9) Cocos nucifera,
10) Crinum asiaticum
11) Boerhavia albiflora,
12) Pisonia grandis,
13) Sesuvium portulacastrum,
14) Portulaca lutea,
15) Portulaca oleracea,
16) Tribulus cistoides,
17) Euphorbia cyanthophora,
18) Euphorbia glomerifera,
19) Euphorbia hirata,
20) Euphorbia prostrate,
21) Triumfetta procumbens,
22) Sida fallax,
23) Cucurbita pepo,
24) Ipomoea macrantha,
25) Cordia subcordata,
26) Messerschmidia argentea,
27) Clerodendrum inerme,
28) Guettarda speciosa,
29) Morinda citrifolia,
30) Scaevola taccada,
31) Vernonia cinerea.
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 coconut trees on Manra, some were healthy, others were not
(Government of Kiribati 1995). At Temauri on the west side of Manra, coconut trees were
senile, crowded and appeared unhealthy.
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