Notes on the Vegetation of laker Island 
I 
by C. R. Long 
Vascular Plants Recorded from Baker Island 
Twenty-four species of vascular plants have been recorded and/or collected 
from Baker Island, Of these ; eight species are considered native. The remaining 
sixteen species are accidental or deliberate introductions. Of the sixteen 
introduced species only three (i.e., Digitaria, Portulaca oleracea and 
jmiphorbia hirta ) appear to have naturalized to any extent. Digitaria is the 
only species which appears likely to compete with the native vegetation over 
large areas of the island. 
i 
Collections of vascular plants from Bhker Island have been made by the 
following; E. Christophersen, September 1924; D. Coman, November 1955* 
E. H. Bryan Jr., July 1938 } P. Marshall, July 1963 ; C. H. Long, July and 
October 1964. ‘ 
Gramineae 
Cenchrus echlnatus L. 
Long 2173 (UH). Three clumps of this burrgrass were confined to the sandy 
ridge of the sfa'uthwest end of the island. Introduced and apparently not 
spreading. First collected in July 1964 probably of World War II introduction. • 
Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. 
Long s. n. (UH). One large clump in sand on the southwest end. Probably 
of World War II introduction. 
Digitaria pacifica Stapf.' 
Christophersen 38 (BISH) as Panicum stenotaphroides, Bryan 1321 (BISH), 
Marshall 1 (USNM), Long 2172 (UH). Common in disturbed sites of the central 
area, on the runway and in sand on the west ridge forming pure stands. From 
a comparison of Bryan's photographs with those taken by POBSP ih.'1964-65 it is 
apparent that this species forms a greater portion of the vegetation cover. A 
ready colonizer of disturbed sites first collected on Baker Island in 1924 and 
probably introduced during the era of guano mining. 
Eragrostis tenella (Link) Beauv. = E. amabilis (l.) W. and A. 
D. Coman s. n. (BISH). Probably introduced by a landing party in this 
century after Christophersen's visit. 
ft •» 
% 
Eragrostis whitneyl Fosberg 
E* Christophersen 50 (BISH) as E# falcata (Gaud.) Gaud* If Fosberg*s 
