Botany

The islets are entirely covered with sand and coral piled 8 to 10 feet above the water. The loose rubble allows all the rain to drain through immediately without collecting, except in rare instances, carrying with it all decaying vegetable matter from which soil might be formed. Since few plants can exist in sand and coral alone, the flora has little variety and agriculture is almost impossible.

The following table gives a complete list of the vegetation of Tokelau. Scientific names are given from specimens, many of which were collected by E. H. Bryan, Jr.

Table of Botanical Specimens

• Ateate (Fleurya ruderalis?, Wedelia biflora)

• Esi (Carica papaya)

• Fatae (Cassytha filiformis)

• Fai (Musa paradisiaca?)

• Fala (Pandanus)

• Fau (Pipturus)

• Fui (Ipomoea grandiflora)

• Kanava (Cordia subcordata)

• Katuli (Portulaca quadrifida)

• Kiekie (Pandanus, Freycinetia)

• Laumea (bird's-nest fern?)

• Lautamatama (Achyranthes velutina)

• Maile (Polypodium nigrescens?)

• Maile kimoa (Nephrolepis hirsutula)

• Masoa (Tacca pinnatifida)

• Mati (Ficus tinctoria)

• Milo (Thespesia populnea)

• Mumuta (Cyperus rotundus)

• Mutia (Fimbristylis cymosa var. microcephala)

• Nase (Eleusine indica)

• Nasevau (Procris pedunculata)

• Ngangie (Pemphis acidula)

• Ngasu (Scaevola frutescens)

• Nguna (Lepidium bidentoides)

• Niu (coconut, Cocos nucifera)

• Nonu (Morinda citrifolia)

• Polo (Solanum viride)

• Puapua (Guettarda speciosa)

• Puka, pukavaka (Hernandia ovigera)

• Pukavai (Pisonia grandis)

• Pulaka (Cyrtosperma chamissonis)

• Taamu (Alocasia macrorrhiza)

• Talo (taro, Colocasia esculentum)

• Tiale (Gardenia taitensis)

• Totolo, tolotolo (Triumfetta procumbens)

• Vao (grass, in general)

• Vao tuitui (Cenchrus echinatus)

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