C.R. Long 
'1964 
surface. Sida and Portulaca are scattered about in mixed clumps or alone. 
The vegetation here reflects the disturbance of the past. The loss of 
cover and the making of new substrates shows vividly the time required for 
the vegetation associations of low, dry islands to became established. 
On the west face of one guano mound Fleurya ruderalis was collected - stems 
very succulent. The plants are shallow rooted. Perhaps during heavy rain 
the guano soils absorb a large amount of the rainfall and/or the depressions 
are filled. This latter source of water would supply moisture to the sides 
of the guano piles. 
Permanent markers - Wo. 1 - placed in coral gravel ridge north of 
the larger guano pit. The cover in this hrea is approx, fifty percent 
with Sida , Portulaca and Boerhaavia associated. The site is nnw of the 
Enderbury light. In the areas between the rubble piles on the west end 
there are good stands of the Portulaca - Boerhaavia association. These 
areas have gravel on top with a mixture of sand and guano below forming 
a fine soil. The best stands are in spots with some protection from the 
prevailing wind. 
Permanent marker - Wo. 2 - placed in fine coral gravel between small 
rubble mounds - about one-half mile due north and slightly east of the 
large guano mound on the west side of the island. Here is found a Port ¬ 
ulaca - Boerhaavia association. Four golden plovers observed on the ground 
in this area. On the north' side near the beach are a series of deep 
gouges - approx, ten to twenty-five feet deep. Guano is found on the 
bottom with small plants of Sesuvium and some Sida seedlings. At the 
north raised end of the deepest gouge are Portulaca and Sida with 
trailing Triumfetta on the rocky (with sand pockets) sides of the gouge. 
On the top of the slope on the north end are found Portulaca, Boerhaavia, 
Sida and some scattered clumps of Lepturus . On top near the beach one 
finds Triumfetta alone. This area particularly in the distribution of 
Portulaca and Lepturus reflects the Importance of substrate and topography 
in the distribution of species on low dry islands. I walked along the 
north beach to the east end and found Triumfetta, Boerhaavia, Lepturus 
and Sida - cover is very sparse. I suspect Portulaca also present but 
there was little light left. 
* see vegetation map of Enderbury Island constructed by C.R.Long from 
observations and field notes taken between July 15-17, 19&4. 
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