the flowers are small white things with yellow centre, there are 
millions all over Christmas ( Heliotropium anomalum -a perenial hut- 
photograph also confirms this designation). It is the most common 
grass, about 12 inches high, and keeps the soil wonderfully moist 
and cool. These, with another low dark-green creeper, not common 
at all, are the only grasses of Christmas (Boerhavia). 
Shrubs. - The most common is the Kurima or Ogea not known in Fiji, 
plenty at Fanning (Sida). Cattle is very fond of it. It grows 
6 to 8 feet high and very thick, then dies out and others come out, 
and their rotting, of course enriching the soil. When exposed tothe 
sea breeze they branch out and creep on the soil; when inland they 
grow straight up; that are always a good sign of fertile soil. The 
Gia or Ironwood, not found at Fanning, grows only on the beach 
(Suriana). It roots are in brackish water, no Cocoanuts would do 
where the Gia grows. Its name is Pemphis acidula . Its height is 
not more than five feet, '(note -e Pemphi s, acidula has never been 
collected from Christmas Island.) The next shrub is the Scaevola 
Koenigii or Nashu, a thick growing one, and where they grow you 
should not hesitate to plant cocoanuts. Many trees planted by 
Levers were saved by the shade of the Nashu. It grows about 10 
to 15 feet high, more like a vine than a tree. The only tree 
growing there is the Taunu or Roro ni bebe _, known as the 
Tournefortia argentea . It grows umbrella shape. _ It perishes 
when flooded by fresh or rain water. There is always a certain 
amount of phosphate where it grows. 
Four trees of drala Erythrina indica have been planted by Levers 
and do very well. Also a few screw pines Pandanus odoratissimus, 
have been planted, and our natives were chewing their fruit for 
the 18 days were there. 
This with a small shrub 2 feet high, dark green, and red cherries 
(Hedyotis)(very few of them), are the only plants on the Island, 
and all have long floating seeds, with two or sometimes three- 
floaters." 
Illustrations which accompany this good description confirm the presence 
of the following: Cocos , Sida fallax , Heliotropium , Pandanus sp., Scaevola 
taccada , Tournefortia argentea , Lepturus repens , and Suriana maritima . 
The west third of Motu Manu the present day Moto Upua is shown with Cocos , 
Tournefortia and Surianna the major species found there today. 
The major changes in the vegetation of Christmas Island have occurred as 
a result of the extension of the Cocos plantations. Christophersen ( 1927 ) 
estimates the numbers at 300,000 mhile in 1965 Mr. Cook estimated minimum 
of 630,000 trees. The trunks of some Cocos in the more mesic sites have 
an orange lichen (probably Anthracothecium sp.) scattered over the trunk. 
The upland area mentioned in Christophersen’s work is largely eradicated 
in 19§5 due to clearing for military installations and the continued enlarge¬ 
ment of the Cocos plantation. Suriana maritima appears to have been largely 
removed from the beaches about London but is still found N of the village 
on both sides of the Cocos groves. The Lepturus - Tribulus association 
mentioned by Christophersen appears to have spread especially the Tribulus ^ 
