the flowers are small white things with yellow centre, there are millions all over Christmas (Heliotropium anomalum-a perennial hut- photograph also confirms this designation). It is the most common grass, about 12 inches high, and keeps the soil wonderfully moist and cool. These, with another low dark-green creeper, not common at all, are the only grasses of Christmas (Boerhavia). Shrubs. - The most common is the Kurima or Ogea not known in Fiji, plenty at Fanning (Sida). Cattle is very fond of it. It grows 6 to 8 feet high and very thick, then dies out and others come out, and their rotting, of course enriching the soil. When exposed to the sea breeze they branch out and creep on the soil; when inland they grow straight up; that are always a good sign of fertile soil. The Gia or Ironwood, not found at Fanning, grows only on the beach (Suriana). It roots are in brackish water, no Cocoanuts would do where the Gia grows. Its name is Pemphis acidula. Its height is not more than five feet. (note - Pemphis acidula has never been collected from Christmas Island.) The next shrub is the Scaevola Koenigii or Nashu, a thick growing one, and where they grow you should not hesitate to plant cocoanuts. Many trees planted by Levers were saved by the shade of the Nashu. It grows about 10 to 15 feet high, more like a vine than a tree. The only tree growing there is the Taunu or Roro ni bebe ___, known as the Tournefortia argentea. It grows umbrella shape. ___ It perishes when flooded by fresh or rain water. There is always a certain amount of phosphate where it grows. Four trees of drala Erythrina indica have been planted by Levers and do very well. Also a few screw pines Pandanus odoratissimus, have been planted, and our natives were chewing their fruit for the 18 days were there. This with a small shrub 2 feet high, dark green, and red cherries (Hedyotis)(very few of them), are the only plants on the Island, and all have long floating seeds, with two or sometimes three- floaters. Illustrations which accompany this good description confirm the presence of the following: Cocos, Sida fallax, Heliotropium, Pandanus sp., Scaevola taccada, Tournefortia argentea, Lepturus repens, and Suriana maritima. The west third of Motu Manu the present day Moto Upua is shown with Cocos, Tournefortia and Suriana the major species found there today. The major changes in the vegetation of Christmas Island have occurred as a result of the extension of the Cocos plantations. Christophersen (1927) estimates the numbers at 300,000 while in 1965 Mr. Cook estimated minimum of 630,000 trees. The trunks of some Cocos in the more mesic sites have an orange lichen (probably Anthracothecium sp.) scattered over the trunk. The upland area mentioned in Christophersen's work is largely eradicated in 1965 due to clearing for military installations and the continued enlarge- ment of the Cocos plantation. Suriana maritima appears to have been largely removed from the beaches about London but is still found N of the village on both sides of the Cocos groves. The Lepturus - Tribulus association mentioned by Christophersen appears to have spread especially the Tribulus,