Boerhavia is acammon component of the flora of Christmas island 
from the sand beaches to the upper edges of the lagoon. It is found 
in every association except the extremely saline ones. Optimal growth 
is found on sandy soils in open areas. Boerhavia seems to colonize 
cleared land which is planted to Cocos and remains though less con¬ 
spicuous after the groves mature. 
The Pisonia tree on Motu Tabu bore sticky fruits. However, only 
one other Pisonia tree was found on the island near the wells on the 
NW side. According to Mr. Cook this tree had been planted near the well 
house. A survey for Pisonia in those Cocos groves planted along the 
well watered slopes of the groves on the north side revealed no young trees. 
It may be supposed that the irregular rainfall of the island contributes 
to the failure of the spread of this forest tree. Large Pisonia trees 
are found on Palmyra and Washington Islands to the north and a few, on 
Malden to the south within the Line Group. 
A number of introduced herbs and grasses are common around London 
and the roads which stretch north and east. Cenchrus echinat-us , Eleusine 
indica , Eragrostis tenella and Digitaria pacifica are common in such 
disturbed areas. Other atoll weeks such as Euphorbia hirta , and Vernonia 
cinerea are common. 
The lack of abundantly sprouting coconuts in established groves 
attests to the irregular rainfall of the region. The amount of rainfall 
appears to be enough to support Cocos plantations under cultivation but 
extensions of the present Cocos plantations currently underway may tend 
to exhaust the lense of fresh water especially during the frequent dry 
periods. The present extensions of the plantations on Christmas Island 
are being carried forward with a view to expanding the plantations in 
order to relieve the population pressures on the Gilbert Islands by trans- 
ferral of colonists to Christmas Island. Previous attempts to colonize 
Hull, Sydney and Gardner Islands to the west (1937-1963) resulted in 
failure. Any such attempts to increase the population of Christmas Island 
must be made after a thorough ecological study of the island has been made. 
In line with this Mr. Richard W. Jenkin, Land Resources Division, Directorate 
of Overseas Surveys, has been sent during 1965 to do extensive surveys of 
Christmas Island. 
