27 
observations of other early visitors as follows: Paty (1857) "coarse grass," 
Brooks ( 1859 ) "shrubs" } and cites Elschner (1915) that some guano was shipped 
from the island. Christophersen and Caum,(op. cit.) report that the 
vegetation was "exceedingly poor, one patch of grass at the north end and 
a fev other plants sparsely distributed'being all that was found." Four 
photographs have been found in the library of the B. P. Bishop Museum 
(Numbers 10077, IOO 79 , 10081 and 10084) which show clumps of Eragrostis , 
/ 
nests of Great Frigatebirds built of sticks on the soil surface, a barren 
'-1 - * : j*. 
“• ' , • / . . - , • • , , - f " . .. . > 
panorama with no vegetation, and strand site with Boerhavia and perching 
% / 
noddies.5 v 
| 
In 1964 the vegetation was thick and composed of three major associations. 
These were Scaevola - Eragrostis with Ipomoea , Sicyos , Boerhavia and Tribulus ; 
Eragrostis - Boerhavia ; and Nama . These associations formed concentric bands. 
The Nama was found on the sandy periphery, but was absent on the west side 
due to a shift in the substrate materials. The Scaevola grew over most of 
> ; ' v . . _ ? _ i 
the elevated portions of the island and the Eragrostis in the low central 
' V ' . ) ... ■ 
area. 
t V ' 
The vegetation of Lisianski Island has evidenced a cyclic pattern of 
i ' ' x . ■ ' . • ' 
complete devastation and recovery in three score years. The thick vegetation 
noted in 1964 infers that the factors influencing distribution and, or 
recovery of plant species on oceanic islands, especially low saiid atolls ' 
or islets, are most efficient. The sequence of species introduction and 
. ' 
association development recorded for Lisianski Island Confirms previous 
speculation on pioneer species and rapidity with which vegetation can recover 
from denudation. In cases where storms are responsible for elimination of 
o 
