Pisonia grandis R. Br. Bergman 8 (BISH); St. John and Cooke 17479 (BISH); Fosberg 13193 (BISH); Long 1910a,b, 3473 (UH). Trees reported from the "northern part of the island" from a "shallow depression on coral plain" (herbarium label) - see Christophersen (1927). These were noted to be 6-7 m. high. No evidence of these was found in 1964-65. Pisonia was collected from Motu Tabu in 1934 and 1936 recorded from "coral gravels" and "sand flats, small tree 5 m. tall" (herbarium labels). The tree referred to in these collec- tions is still present and about the same height. Several smaller trees were also observed in 1964. The larger tree bore abundant fruits and had dropped a considerable percentage of foliage during the dry season. There was heavy litter beneath the trees. The other collection (Long 3473) is from the wells on the northern portion and according to Mr. Cook these were planted. The Pisonia on Motu Tabu is of particular interest since no evidence of a phosphatic hardpan was observed under these young trees. Aizoaceae Sesuvium portulacastrum var. griseum Deg. and Fosb. Dall s.n. (USNM); Bergman 13 (BISH); St. John and Fosberg 17493 (BISH); Gallagher K. (BISH); Hamilton 12 (BISH); Long 1894, 1895, 2765, 3418, 3434, 3489(UH). This variety is found in the Phoenix and Line Islands. It is common on low saline soils usually over a damp coralline hardpan bordering the lagoons and lagoon islets of Christmas Island. Often found as the only plant on the low islets of the lagoon or with Eragrostis whitneyi. On some more elevated islets of the lagoon this species appears to be followed in drier sites by Heliotropium. Dead mats of Sesuvium with young Heliotropium plants among the dead stems were observed on several occasions in 1965. Portulacaceae Portulaca lutea Sol. Bergman 4 (BISH); Wilder s.n. (BISH); Fosberg 13188 (BISH); Fosberg and Metraux 13220, 13223, 13236 (BISH); Hamilton 14 (BISH); Long 1895, 1906, 2740, 2761, 2769, 2792, 2796, 3404, 3432 (UH). Common on sandy soils and over hardpans throughout the island. Found under Cocos groves and on recently exposed hardpans of the central area. Portulaca oleracea L. Long 3435, 3469 (UH). Found near gravel pits of Observation Point. Portulaca sp. Cooke 17478 (BISH) as P. Johnii; Fosberg 13269 (BISH) as P. fosbergii; Hamilton 16 (BISH) as P. fosbergii; Long 2760, 3490 (UH). These collections are grouped together until data from the most recently collected specimens can be compared with the older collections. Lauraceae Cassytha filiformis L. Bergman 34(BISH); Fosberg 13235 (BISH); Fosberg and Metraux 13213 (BISH); Gallagher M (BISH); Hamilton 7 (BISH); Long 1888, 1914, 2746, 2793, 3430 (UH). This parasite is common on Scaevola and Heliotropium.