coconut plantation,
8.
Seeds of various plants have been collected and germination
tested in the greenhouse at Seattle.
It is hoped that
some of
these plants may prove suitable for study of radiation effects
(note: it is not proposed that such studies be undertaken at the
University of Washington.
Dr.
Sparrow,
BNL has verbally expressed
interest in running such experiments).
Seedlings of Messerschmidia argentea are currently being
tested for salinity tolerance in Na Cl solutions at 0.5,
3,
10 and
20 atmospheres.
9.
A search for atypical plants was made at most islands in
September 1959.
Photographs were taken of the atypical plants
found.
°
.
Multiheaded or branched coconut palms were found at Naen and
Yugui islands.
A single double headed palm about three feet high
was observed at Jabwan on this south end of Rongelap Island.
This
was said by the natives to have been caused by mechanical damage.
In a visit to Seattle in September 1960,
Mr, Niel Morriss,
Trust
Territory Agriculturalist reported finding two multiheaded palms
at Ujelang Atoll, which lies southwest of Eniwetok Atoll.
Twisted fronds were found on Rongelap, Kabelle,
Yugui,
Aerik and Naen Islands.
Gejen,
Lomvilal,
They occurred with much greater
frequency on the northernmost islands which received the most fallout.
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