In April 1923 Wetmore (ms.) noted that "the crest was covered with 
the bunch grass and much of the grayish leaved shrub" (Figure ). 
Christophersen and Caum (1933:15-16) found eleven species on the island 
in 1923 . Eragrostis and Lepturus were distributed indiscriminately, and 
Achyranthes was common. Boerhavia and Tribulus were present. Large 
I 
flourishing plants of Sicyos grew on the eastern half of the western sec¬ 
tion. Solanum nelson! was present, though not abundant. Lepidium 
o-waihiense [= bidentatum ] was rare. Sesuvium grew on the raised reef 
and low wet flats of the eastern portion (Figure ). Capparis sand- 
# 
wichiana was scattered over much of the island except for 
* 
beach and reef. A few small Scaevola iiaccada bushes were also present. 
The same eleven species were present when the island was surveyed in 
& 
1963 . Only one clump of Capparis and one Scaevola bush were found. 
Tribulus and Boerhavia were widespread* and Lepldium was common in the 
transition zone from bunchgrass to beach. There were 40 to 50 clumps of 
Eragrostis, and Lepturus was common. Solanum nelson! was also common, 
and Sicyos was prebent. Sesuvium still occurred on the rocky and wet 
areas of the eastern portion. About five plants of Achyranthes were noted. 
Other Islands 
POBSP and BSFW personnel have not found any plants on Bird, Kittery, 
Planetree, or Sand Islands on visits to Pearl and Hermes between 1963 and 
1969 * No vegetation was listed for these islands in earlier reports on 
the atoll (Wetmore, ms.; Galtsoff, 1933:13“1^5 and Christophersen and 
Caum, 1931:15-16, 20-41). 
