Long, Charles R. 1964 Field Notes September 15, 1964 - Midway Island, Eastern Island A brief morning collecting trip was made with J. Beardsley, entomologist, University of Hawaii. A mass collection of Scaevola taccada was made. A series of photographs were taken to give some idea as to the seasonal change in the vegetation of this island. The Lobularia was very dry and in seed at this season. The Scaevola along the north side of the east- west runway showed bare stems and an accumulation of dry leaves at the base of the plant. A large area of Lepidum owaihiense was noted on the north side of the east-west runway (see vegetation map). The Solanum-nigrum and Lepidum owaihiense are in flower and fruit. On the northwest beach the Eragrostis variabilis clumps are much larger and more conspicuous than when examined in May 1964, but the clumps are much smaller and less vigorous than those seen on Kure, Laysan or Lisianski Islands. Many of the other plants on Eastern Island - Caronopus, Cenchrus and Verbesina reflect the dry season with their dried leaves and stems. Verbesina encelioides as seen on Eastern Island is, as noted in the field on Kure Island, a vigorous and undesirable colonizer, which if allowed to spread, will occupy areas now used by ground nesting birds. This herb is tall and has strong stems. It produces a great quantity of seeds, is heat resistant and its vertical stems are not attractive to perching birds. I estimate about 40 % of the land area of Eastern Island is vegetated. September 16, 1964 Pearl and Hermes Reef We land on Southeast Island at 5:50 p.m. Plant collecting was limited to the light remaining for this day. The plants collected were: