F 
l 
Phoenix Island 
• / 
July 12, 1964 — Permanent markers — I* Placed one—half the distance 
between the lagoon (hare area) and the rock beach on the west side of 
the island, and, approx, one-half the distance from the north point 
to the south point. The above ground portion approx, fifty-four inches 
above the level of the soil. A very solid, vigorous Lepturus—Boerhaavia 
association, nesting blue-^grsy noddys, Hawaiian noddys and common 
noddys. Also in the general area were fairy terns, Christmas Island 
shearwaters and wedgetailed shearwaters. The Lepturns on the west side 
of the island averages 20—30 inches high. The Boerhaavia is very thick 
and green with new growth. On the east side of the island the Lepturns 
is found growing in pockets and often 36-40 inches high with innumerable 
runners being produced. 
Permanent marker II — On the edge of the lagoon (west side), to the 
east bare salt flats and to the west the Sesuvium mat (about twenty-five 
feet west of the mat edge are large vigorous clumps of Lepturus , and about 
forty-five feet back are small, solid stands of Lepturus with Sesuvium 
found underneath the sprawling plants. On the edge of the lagoon - in the 
Sesuv ium mat are indentations or pockets where the Sesuvium has been 
killed off or cleared off by the nesting masked boobies. These areas have 
been denuded by the activities of the nesting birds (physical injury and 
the guano cover) . Similar areas are found in th e Sesuvium patches in the 
central lagoon area. The boobies make use of the prevailing wind blowing over 
the bare area of the central lagoon and the absence of plant cover to 
facilitate easy take-offs. In the bare stony ridges at the south end of the 
lagoon one finds stands of Portulaca and often Trith Boerhaavia . 
Transect I ( from bare lagoon flat to beach se end) . 
guano soil Sesuvium 
with hardpan 
slope, stony 
more accentuated 
slope 
raised area at 
lagoon edge 
Lepturus 
Boerhaavia 
Sesuvium 
Lepturus 
Boerhaavia 
rock, gravel and sand 
patches 
Portulaca 
Boerhaavia 
rocky with 
soil pockets 
Portulaca 
Hone of the Boerhaavia observed on the island had lavender to pink 
flowers or dark green leaves and heavily anthocyanized stems as that 
seen on Hull island. In the most exposed rocky areas on this island 
the species shows light green stems and leaves and white flowers. 
The slopes of the lagoon seem to provide wet pockets for the vigorous 
growth of Lepturus which is green and lush. The same species in other 
areas on the island is drier and less vigorous in appearance. In the 
exposed gravel areas on the south end the Lepturus is flattened to with¬ 
in inches of the surface. 
Transect II — (south end of the island). 
beach rock 
sand and gravel 
Lepturus 
Portulaca 
rocky Trith soil 
pockets, 
Lepturus 
Portulaca 
S i&a ' (procumbent) 
Boerhaavia 
