Mangaia

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left: ISS008-E-18333 Image courtesy of the Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center. http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov Mangaia With its ca. 51 km sq Mangaia is the second largest island in the Cook archipelago. The highest point is the 169 m high volcano Rangimotia in the centre of the island. In the south part of Mangaia lies the Lake Tiriara which is surrounded by impressive Makatea cliffs. Up to now Mangaia's flora counts about 145 higher plants, no endemic forms are known today. The discovery of subfossil pollen has confirmed the former existence of a now extinct, most likely endemic fan-palm species (Pritchardia sp.).

Flora of Mangaia (almost complete) (green = pictures) Abrodictyum dentatum, Abrus precatorius, Achyranthes velutina, Acrophorus raiateensis, Acrostichum aureum, Adiantum hispidulum, Allophylus rhomboidalis, Alyxia stellata, Angiopteris evecta, Arachniodes aristata, Asplenium australasicum, Asplenium laserpitiifolium, Asplenium nidus, Asplenium polyodon, Barringtonia asiatica, Blechnum orientale, Boerhavia acutifolia, Caesalpinia major, Callerya australis, Calophyllum inophyllum, Canavalia cathartica, Capparis cordifolia, Cassytha filiformis, Celtis pacifica, Chamaesyce fosbergii, Chrysopogon aciculatus (?), Cocos nucifera, Colubrina asiatica, Corchorus torresianus, Cordia subcordata, Cyclophyllum barbatum, Cyclosorus dentatus, Cyclosorus interruptus, Cyclosorus invisus, Cyclosorus opulentus, Cyperus javanicus, Cyperus odoratus (?), Davallia denticulata var. elata, Davallia solida, Dianella adenanthera, Dicranopteris linearis, Diplazium harpeodes, Dodonaea viscosa, Dryopteris dissecta, Elaeocarpus tonganus, Entada phaseoloides, Erythrina variegata, Eugenia reinwardtiana, Fagraea berteroana, Ficus prolixa, Ficus tinctoria, Fimbristylis cymosa, Geniostoma sykesii, Geophila repens, Glochidion taitense, Guettarda speciosa, Haplopteris rigida, Heliotropium anomalum, Heliotropium foertherianum, Hernandia moerenhoutiana, Hernandia nymphaeifolia, Hibiscus tiliaceus, Homalium acuminatum, Ipomoea littoralis, Ipomoea macrantha, Ipomoea pes-caprae ssp. brasiliensis, Ischaeum byrone, Ixora triflora, Jasminum didymum, Korthalsella platycaula, Lepidium bidentatum, Leptopetalum foetidum, Lepturus repens, Leucas decemdentata, Limnophila fragrans, Lindernia crustacea, Liprais orbiculata, Lycopodiella cernua, Macaranga harveyana, Macrothelypteris torresiana, Malaxis resupinata, Melastoma denticulatum, Microsorum commutatum, Microsorum grossum, Microsorum katuii, Miscanthus floridulus, Morinda citrifolia (?), Morinda myrtifolia, Mucuna gigantea, Mussaenda raiateensis, Myoporum wilderi, Myrsine cheesemanii, Nephrolepis biserrata, Nephrolepis hirsutula, Nervila aragoana, Oberonia equitans, Operculina turpethum, Ophioglossum pendulum, Ophioglossum reticulatum, Osteomeles anthyllidifolia, Pachypleuria pectinata, Pandanus tectorius, Paspalum vaginatum, Pemphis acidula, Peperomia australana, Peperomia blanda var. floribunda, Peperomia pallida, Peperomia rhomboidea, Persicaria glabra, Phaius tankervilleae, Pipturus argenteus var. tuamotensis, Pisonia grandis, Pisonia umbellifera, Pittosporum rarotongense, Planchonella grayana, Portulaca lutea, Pritchardia sp. 'Mangaia' (ex), Procris pedunculata, Psilotum nudum, Pteris comans, Pteris tripartita, Pyrrosia serpens, Rhizophora mangle (ex), Rorippa sarmentosa (?), Sapindus saponaria, Scaevola taccada, Schleinitzia insularum, Schoenoplectus californicus, Sesuvium portulacastrum, Sideroxylon polynesicum, Solanum nodiflorum, Sophora tomentosa, Spathoglottis plicata, Streblus anthropophagorum, Suriana maritima, Taeniophyllum fasciola, Tectaria jardinii, Tephrosia purpurea, Terminalia glabrata var. rarotongensis, Thespesia populnea, Thuarea involuta, Timonius polygamus, Trema orientalis, Triumfetta procumbens, Tuberolabium papuanum, Ventilago vitiensis, Vigna marina, Weinmannia samoensis (ex), Xylosma suaveolens ssp. gracile

References: - M. Prebble; J. L. Dowe: The late Quaternary decline and extinction of palms on oceanic Pacific islands. Science Reviews 27: 2546-2567 (2008)