Journal of Edwin H. Bryan, Jr. while with the Whitney Expedition of the American Museum of Natural History on the schooner France, February to October 1924
Page 205
Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by American Museum of Natural History. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
Roll 22:4, 5 and 6 Panorama from N.E. end of lagoon, looking S.W., W. and N.W. Roll 23:1 A "cut" in the trail through a layer of conglomerate sandstone, and the "fill" across an arm of the lagoon beyond. Patches of white flowered Ipomoea vine climbing over Scaevola. Roll 23;2 Little pool of brackish water on E. side surrounded by Scaevola and with a few high coconut palms. Looking E. toward ocean (200-300 yards away). Followed south through "open" grove of Buka, Tefano, Kau and Scaveola and Tournefortia and then straight E. for 200 yards through a very dense thicket of Scaevola to east beach. Here the sand beach is wide, rising about 14' in 40', crowned with Scaevola and Tournefortia. Reef about 60 yards wide, moderate surf, very little drift wood. Roll 23:3 Looking E.N.E. across the reef's toward the breakers. South to within about 1/2 mile of S.E. point and back to Scaevola to a large hook-shaped pond of nearly fresh water, zurrounded by coconut palms. Roll 23:4 The N.W. end of this pool looking N.E. (Will visit this area again). (11408) Across to lagoon and around S. side to copra camp and landing. Back to schooner at 4:50. Summary of Plants of Sydney Island. 1. Coconut palms - solid stand W. side with untended patches about ponds of E. and small patches in S.W. 2. Noni tree (Morinda), a large constituent of "dry forest" N. side, else- where scattered. 3. Scaevola (most abundant plant on island) in "dry forest" and solid stands E. and S. sides. 4. Tournefortia abundant along beach and in "dry forest." 5. Tafono tree (Plant Spec. No. 35). Abundant in "dry" and "Buka" forests. 6. Buka, abundant in low, more moist "Buka" forest toward lagoon from "dry forest." 7. Kou tree (Cordia). Principally in "Buka forest" east side. 8. Sida - higher and more luxuriant, abundant under shrub in "Buka forest."