98 
TAXONOMIC CHECK-LIST 
PTEROPSIDA 
Class PILICINAE 
POLYPODIACEAE 
Acrostkhum auretm L., Sp. PL 1069, 1753. 
NAMONUITO: Pisarach Islet, south end, 
abundant in swamps, July 2, 1957, Stone 
2137. N.v. ''apeu.” 
Asplenium nidus L., Sp. PL 1079, 1753. 
NAMONUITO: Magur Islet, epiphytic, June 
29, 1957, Stone 2121. Observed on most 
islets. 
Cyclosorus goggilodus (Schkuhr) Link, Hort. 
beroL 2: 128, 1833. 
NAMONUITO: Pisarach Islet, south end, in 
swamps and taro patches, July 2, 1957, 
Stone 2142. 
Microsorium scolopendria (Burm. f.) Copeland, 
Calif. Univ., Pubs., Bot. 16:112, 1929. 
NAMONUITO: Magur Islet, in Pisonia-Eugenia 
forest, terrestrial or with climbing rhizomes, 
June 29, 1957, Stone 2101. nomwin: Nom- 
win Islet, in forest west of village, common, 
July 3, 1957, Stone 2162. Observed on all 
islets. A highly variable fern, extremely narrow- 
segmented forms of which, without much 
taxonomic basis, have been distinguished as 
var. longisecta H. Ito ex Hosokawa. Since 
ecological conditions seem to account for 
dwarf, nonpinnate forms, for the varying 
thickness of the fronds in various conditions 
of exposure and moisture, and for absolute 
size, it seems probable that this variety also 
is so determined. Glassman (1952:49) places 
this variety in synonymy with the species. 
N.v. "tiji.” 
Nephrolepis hiserrata (Sw.) Schott, Gen. Fil. t. 
3, 1834. 
NAMONUITO: Magur Islet, in Pisonia- 
Eugenia forest, frequent, June 29, 1957, Stone 
2094. Observed on all islets. N.v. "amerei.” 
Class ANGIOSPERMAE 
Subclass MONOCOTYLEDON AE 
PANDANACEAE 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. XIII, January 1959 
Pandanus sp. 
Thirty-eight specimens were collected in 
the three atolls, all of them of stction Pandanus 
and representing a wide array of fruiting and 
flowering material. Heretofore usually con- 
strued as P. tectorius Sol. or P. odoratissimus 
L.f., the identity of these specimens must 
await the completion of current research. 
However, two readily recognizable edible 
varieties may be listed here: one, which has 
been named P. cylindricus Kanehira, bears a 
large, elongate, cylindric syncarp up to 45 
cm. long, composed of flat-topped, smooth- 
sided, 15-carpellate phalanges. These are 
nearly always completely sterile, the seeds 
aborting, and as a result, little if any hard 
endocarp develops, and the phalanges, after 
weathering, may be pulled apart with one 
hand. The other varieties have a tough and al- 
most unbreakable endocarp. This one is com- 
monly called "kinlau,” "killau,” or "kinnau.” 
Another edible variety is ”fach-era,” which 
has a large elliptic syncarp, and phalanges 
with 10-15 carpels; the middle area of each 
phalange is expanded, and the sides are 
creased and lined with corky scars. This va- 
riety is called "ajbwirik” in the Marshall Is- 
lands, where it is abundant. It has been found 
also in the Ponape district. 
The general term for Pandanus is 'Tach.” 
A variety used only for its leaves, with a shrub 
habit and conspicuous reddish bark, is called 
"fach-en-luta,” and is said to be from Rota, 
in the Marianas. It is apparently sterile. 
'Tach” is also the term for an individual 
phalange of the fruit; "umun” means syncarp 
or head; "chon” means leaf. "Fach-en-wan,” 
applied to all the "wild” forms, apparently 
means "forest pandan.” Several of the wild 
forms are used, on occasion, for food, but 
"kinlau” and "fach-era” are the really prized 
edible fruits. 
Besides the coconut palm, the pandanus is 
perhaps the most useful plant, its leaves pro- 
viding thatch for roofing and walls, and 
plaiting materials for mats, handbags, handi- 
