August 10,
1964
(cont.)
Land plants.
"General impression of excellent growth through-
out the island,--some Messerschmidia plants to 15 feet tall,
Scaevola,
10-12 feet tall,
plants mostly green and healthy except
for an occasional yellowing of Messerschmidia and Scaevola and
chewed holes in Guettarda.
Grasses not healthy looking,
especially
the Lepturus clumps which often contain more dead than living
tissues.
At the center and eastern end of the island the
parasite Cossytha covered most of the shrubs,
to penetrate the vegetation.
making it aifficult
Did not find our old 1954 stakes
although four of us roamed the areas staked for some time.
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few sprouting coconuts 2-3' were seen and a few clumps of Suriana
3-4'
tall were observed.
Ipomoea tuba covered the ground and
vegetation along with Cossytha,
the island.
especially at the eastern end of
Collected the usual plant specimens in the pit
#6 area.
Algae.
Samples were collected at the west end of the island
and in the fish collecting area N.E. of island.
observed in all areas with algal growth poor.
Heavy silting
Species most
abundant were Halimeda stuposa in the lagoon, H. opuntia and Lyngbya
in other areas.
collecting areas,
Some excellent growth of Codium geppii in fish
under rocks in dark spots only.
Scum algae