86

Figure A-2. Affected Guettarda speciosa with normal appearing Scacvola sericea.

normal green color. Ground surveys revealed that
Scaevola sericea was common and normal in appearance. Manyof the Guettarda speciosa appeared
to be in poor condition (Figure A-2). In some,all
or nearlyaJ] the leaves were gone from the termi-

nal 1 to 12 in. of the branches, and otherleaves

were yellowed and shriveled. In other Guettarda,
nearlyall the leaves were gone, and the bushes
appeared completely dead. More than 50% ofthe
Guettarda were affected in whole or part. In one

area of Naen several hundred yards inland from
the ocean beach, there was a field of 30 Guet-

tarda, al] of which were dead. Some young Ptsonia
grandis were seen which appeared to be in good
condition. Mature Pisonia were seen which were
partially defoliated, but these did not appear to be
greatly different from those seen on RongelapIslet
on the southeast corner of Rongelap Atoll. None
of the mistletoe-like clumps described by Fosberg
were observed. Several Ochrosia oppositifolia were
seen with nearly complete defoliation, which appeared dead. A small grove of coconut trees near
the center of Naen Islet contained 4 to 5 dead

the tree. Several trees had dry and shriveled
fronds, and 6 had deformed bulges to 8 ft below the crown with apparently normal! growth
abovethe bulges.
Photographs of the affected vegetation were
examined by Dr. Fosberg, and hestated that the
changes were similar to those he had previously
reported.
It is not possible to evaluate the cause of the
changes from the present observations. More extensive and detailed botanical and ecological surveys will be necessary, both on the islands that
received radiation and on those that did not, to

determine whether the changes seen bear any
relation to fallout. In particular, it should be noted
that these observations were made during the dry
season.
Weare indebted to Professor Frank Richardson
of the University of Washington for identifying the
plants, and to Commander W. Lyons, USN, for
his assistance in taking the photographs.

DOE ARCHIVES

trees within a radius of 300 yards, which were

REFERENCES

headed coconut trees were seen, one with fronds

1. Fosperc, F.R., Nature 183, 1448 (1959).
2. Fosperc, F.R., Atoll Research Bulletin 61, 1-11 (1959).
3. Conarn, R.A. et ar., Medical Surveyof Rongelap People,

decapitated at heights 5 to 12 ft above the ground
with no evidence of axe or machete marks. Two 2that were mostly brown and appeared dead growing from the trunk 2 ft below the true crownof

March 1958, Four Years After Exposure to Fallout, BNL

534 (T-135).

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