/ 
38 
Seal Island (Figure IX) 
* *v ' 
The central portion of the western half of the island., about 600 leefc 
east to west and 150 feet wide, contains most ox the vegecauion ox one island. 
The interior of this vegetated area is primarily Sicyos hispidus , Solanum 
nelsoni, and Eragrostis variabilis . Between the densely vegetated area and the 
beach is a transition zone of Tribulus cistoides , Boernavia dnlusa , Lepturus 
repens , and E. variabilis . Growth of all but the variabilis extends to some 
extent out among the beach rubble., One clump of Achyranthes splendens grows 
* % 
v. 
at the eastern border of this vegetated area. Small Sesuvium portulacastrum 
plants are scattered on the rocky ledges of the eastern naif. 
In Atsril 1923 Dr. Wetmore (on. cit.) noted that: "the crest was covered 
with the bunch grass with much of the grayish leaved shrub'^. Christophersen 
and Caum (op. cit .) found eleven species on the island in 1923* E. variapixis 
and Lepturus were distributed indiscriminately, and Achyranthes was common. 
Boerhavia and Tribulus were present. Large flourishing plants of Sicyos grew 
- ; • - I 
on the eastern half of the western section• £> • nelsoni was present^ though not 
* 
abundant. Lepidium o-waihiense was rare. Sesuvium grew on the raised reef and 
low wet flats of the eastern portion. Capparis sandwichiana [= spinosa ] was 
scattered over much of the island except for beach and reef* A few small 
Scaevola taccada bushes were present. 
The same eleven species were present when the island was surveyed in l$o3* 
Only one clump of Capparis and one Scaevola bush were found. Tribulus and 
Boerhavia were widespread^ and Lepidium was common in the transition zone from 
bunchgrass to beach. There were 40 to 5® clumps of Eragrostis ^ ana Lepturus 
was common* Solanum nelsoni was also common^ and Sicyos was present, besavium 
still occurred on the rocky and wet areas of the eastern portion. About five 
plants of Achyranthes were noted. 
