31 
f 
by Trlbulus has one patch of pure Sicyos and a larger patch of E. variabilis ♦ 
i 
A second clump of this grass gr.ows further east in the jS. nelsoni - Tribulus - 
Sicyos association. Several very stunted Scaevola taccada bushes grew along 
the margin between the vegetated area and the beach on the southwestern and 
southern sides of the eastern section. 
Other plant species recorded in small numbers for this island are Setaria 
verticillata , evidently introduced in 1961 (Woodside and Kramer, 1961 ); Lepturus 
repens; Casuarina equisetifolia, introduced in 1963 and now [ 1965 ] mostly dead; 
\ 
and Portulaca lutea , 
Pi<x.*v<2. "X 
The photographs of W. F, Frear,^taken in December 1912, indicate that the 
island was chiefly tall bunchgrass, presumably E. variabilis . Eleven years 
later, in April 1923 , the photographs of Alexander Wetmore show the island to 
TO 
have a moderate, open cover of E. variabilis. Sesuvium grew abundantly on the 
? [cA-q, 351 ’ * 
large reef rock ledge. The Tanager Expedition collected six species on South¬ 
east Island (Christophersen and Caum, op , cit, ), E. variabilis end Lepturus were 
distributed indiscriminately on the island. Sesuvium grew on the reef rock 
areas and in the muddy flats around the ponds at the eastern end of the island, 
Boerhavia was present, but not abundant, and Tribulus was present. Sicyos was 
represented by a few plants. One seed each of Mucuna gigantea and M. urens 
. \ 
v 
were found on the beaches. v 
In May 1923 the Tanager Expedition planted hau, Paritium tiliaceum , and 
palm, Pritchardia nacifica, trees op Southeast Island (Gregory, op . cit . and 
Wetmore, on. cit), and scattered seeds. Though no record remains of what seeds 
were scattered, Dr. Wetmore has a list of the species given the expedition by 
the Territory of Hawaii of the Department of Agriculture for planting on the 
Reservation to replace vegetation destroyed by rabbits. With the exception 
of Scaevola none of the species on this list are presently [19^53 growing on 
\ 
Southeast Island. 
** , * * **.. •-* * *’-■-■ . . ... - —. 
