226 



DISTRIBUTION OF PLANTS. 



to examine the growing plants, only one additional species made its 

 appearance ; as will be perceived by the following List : 



Lepidium ; bis (No. 1 Clermont-Tonnerre coral-island). 



(Meridiana ?, bis No. 1 Clermont-Tonnerre coral-island) ; the flowers full half an inch in 

 diameter. (Unlike Portulaca, specimens of the plant fall to pieces in drying). 



Sca3Vola; bis (No. 1 Clermont-Tonnerre coral-island). Very abundant. 



Tournefortia; bis (No. 1 Clermont-Tonnerre coral-island). Here arborescent, forming 

 a small tree, fifteen to twenty feet high ; (the leaves in drying become strigosely-seri- 

 ceous and Lithospermum-like). 



(Calpidia ovatifolia?; compare No. 1 Clermont-Tonnerre and Serle coral islands; Pisonia- 

 like). A tree fifty feet high ; leaves sub-opposite, ovate, acute at each end, sub-serru- 

 late ; flowers not seen. 



Boerhaavia ; bis (No. 1 Clermont-Tonnerre coral-island). 



Achyranthes ; bis (No. 1 Clermont-Tonnerre coral-island). Frequent. 



Urtica (No. 2) ; a second species. A foot or more high ; very tenderly herbaceous ; 

 leaves long-petioled. 



Pandanus ; bis (No. 1 Clermont-Tonnerre and Serle coral-islands. We obtained evidence 

 that the island had been sometimes visited by natives ; it is possible therefore, that the 

 Pandanus has been introduced, and is not spontaneously disseminated). 



(Lepturus) ; bis (No. 1 Clermont-Tonnerre coral-island), the undetermined grass; again, 

 not in flower. 



4. Waitoiio and Otua, the two Disappointment coral-islands. The 

 Vincennes next pursued a Western course, and on the 23d arrived in 

 sight of Waitoho, the main Disappointment Island; having its North- 

 west end in about " S. Lat. 14° 10' and W. Long. 141° 18'." In 

 coasting along the shore in a boat, Waitoho was found to be little else 

 than a lagoon ; much of the rim of land-surface being a wash, and the 

 succession of three or four dry banks hardly anywhere exceeding 

 twelve feet in height. The Pandanus seemed the most conspicuous 

 and abundant plant ; we were not near enough to distinguish anything 

 further in regard to the species of shrubs and other plants composing 

 the vegetable growth. 



Otua, "twelve miles distant," was found to be a mere strip of coral- 

 beach, " three or four miles long, a few hundred feet across," and 

 twelve to sixteen feet high throughout. Landing with others on the 

 26th, Mr. Brackenridge and myself succeeded in reaching the top of 

 the beach ; but after a few moments, our examination of the vegetable 

 growth was interrupted by the natives. The Suriana and Cassyta 

 continued absent: on the other hand, among the growing plants, one 

 additional species here made its appearance ; as will be perceived by 

 the following List : 



