Pisonia grandis R. Br. 
Bergman 8 (BISH); St. John and Cooke 17479 (BISH); Posberg 13193 
(BISH); Long 1910a,b, 3^*73 (UH). Trees reported from the”northern part 
of the island” from a ,T shallow depression on coral plain” (herbarium label) 
- see Christophersen ( 1927 ). These were noted to be 6-7 high. No 
evidence of these was found in 1964 - 65 . Pisonia was collected from Motu 
Tabu in 193^- and 1936 recorded from ”coral gravels” and ”sand flats, small 
tree 5 m. tall” (herbarium labels). The tree referred to in these collec¬ 
tions is still present and about the same height. Several smaller trees 
were also observed in 1964 . The larger tree bore abundant fruits and had 
dropped a considerable percentage of foliage during the dry season. There 
was heavy litter beneath the trees. The other collection (Long 3^73) is 
from the wells on the northern portion and according to Mr. Cook these 
were planted. The Pisonia on Motu Tabu is of particular interest since no 
evidence of a phosphatic hardpan was observed under these young trees. 
Aizoaceae 
Sesuvium portulacastrum var. griseum Leg. and Fosb. 
Dali s.n. (USMM); Bergman 13 (BISH); St. John and Fosberg 17493 (BISH); 
Gallagher K.- (BISH); Hamilton 12 (BISH); Long 1894, 1895 , 2765 , 34l8, 3434, 
3489(UH)• This variety is found in the Phoenix and Line Islands. It is 
common on low saline soils usually over a damp coralline hardpan bordering 
the lagoons and lagoon islets of Christmas Island. Often found as the only 
plant on the low islets of the lagoon or with Eragrostis whitneyi . On some 
more elevated islets of the lagoon this species appears to be followed in 
drier sites by Heliotropium . Lead mats of Sesuvium with young Heliotropium 
plants among the dead stems were observed on several occasions in 19 ^ 5 • 
Portulacaceae 
Portulaca lutea Sol. 
Bergman 4 (BISH); Wilder s.n. (BISH); Fosberg 13188 (BISH); Fosberg 
and Metraux 13220, 13223, 13236 (BISH); Hamilton l4 (BISH); Long 1895 , 
1906 , 2740, 2761 , 2769 , 2792 , 2796 , 3404, 3432 (UH). Common on sandy 
soils and over hardpans throughout the island. Found under Cocos groves 
and on recently exposed hardpans of the central area. 
Portulaca oleracea L. 
Long 3435, 3^69 (UH). Found near gravel pits of Observation Point. 
Portulaca sp. 
Cooke 17478 (BISH) as P. Johnii ; Fosberg 13269 (BISH) as P. fosbergii ; 
Hamilton l6 (BISH) as P. fosbergii ; Long 2760 , 3^-90 (LH). These collections 
are grouped together until data from the most recently collected specimens 
can be compared with the older collections. 
Lauraceae 
Cassytha filiformis L. 
Bergman 34(BISH); Fosberg 13235 (BISH); Fosberg and Metraux 13213 (BISH); 
Gallagher M (BISH); Hamilton 7 (BISH); Long 1888, 1914, 2746, 2793> 3430 (Uh). 
This parasite is common on Scaevola and Heliotropium . 
