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| above: ISS007-E-14330 Image courtesy of the Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center. http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov Makatea (below left) together with the atolls Tikehau (above left), Rangiroa (middle), Arutua (above right) und Kaukura (below right). |
 left:ISS002-E-7426 Image courtesy of the Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center. http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov Makatea Makatea is a ca. 28 kmē large makatea island, consists therefore of fossil coral stone. The whole island is surrounded by steep cliffs, that are between 5 and 70 m high. The islands interior is a plateau, with the 111 m high Mt. Puutiare and the 90 m high Mt. Aetia as highest points. The flora is, compared to the 'normal' atolls of the Tuamotu archipelago, quite rich in species, but I have no exactly 'species-list', so I can only mention those species that I know from this island. Furthermore here live each a endemic bird species and a -subspecies. Moreover Makatea is the last place where the Polynesian Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula aurorae) lives, a bird which once was found in the whole central Polynesia. |
| Flora of Makatea
(almost complete) (fat = endemic, green = pictures) Allophylus rhomboidalis, Alyxia stellata, Asplenium nidus, Barringtonia asiatica, Boerhavia acutifolia, Boerhavia tetrandra, Calophyllum inophyllum, Capparis cordifolia, Cassytha filiformis, Celtis pacifica, Cenchrus calyculatus, Centosteca lappacea (?), Chamaesyce fosbergii, Chrsysopogon aciculatus (?), Cocos nucifera, Colubrina asiatica, Cordia subcordata, Cyclophyllum barbatum, Cyclosorus invisus, Cyclosorus opulentus, Cyperus javanicus (?), Davallia solida, Digitaria stenotaphrodes, Dodonaea viscosa, Ficus prolixa, Ficus tinctoria, Fimbristylis cymosa ssp. umbellatocapitata, Glochidion wilderi, Gossypium hirsutum var. taitense, Guettarda speciosa, Heliotropium anomalum, Heliotropium foertherianum, Hernandia nymphaeifolia, Hibiscus tiliaceus, Homalium moua, Ipomoea littoralis, Ipomoea macrantha, Ixora foetida, Jasminum didymum, Korthalsella platycaula, Laportea ruderalis, Lepturus repens, Melochia odorata, Microsorum grossum, Morinda myrtifolia, Myrsine ovalis var. wilderi, Nephrolepis acutifolia, Nephrolepis biserrata, Nephrolepis hirsutula, Oberonia equitans, Ophioglossum pendulum, Pachygone vitiensis, Pandanus tectorius, Paspalum vaginatum, Pemphis acidula, Peperomia blanda var. floribunda, Peperomia pallida, Phyllanthus societatis, Pipturus argenteus var. tuamotensis, Pisonia grandis, Planchonella grayana, Portulaca lutea, Premna serratifolia, Pritchardia vuylstekeara, Procis pedunculata, Psilotum nudum, Scaevola taccada, Suriana maritima, Tabernaemontana pandacaqui, Taeniophyllum fasciola, Tarenna sambucina, Terminalia samoensis, Thespesia populnea, Thuarea involuta, Timonius polygamus, Triumfetta procumbens, Vigna marina, Xylosma suaveolens ssp. pubigerum |
| References: - Harold St. John: A new Ervatamia (Apocynaceae) from Makatea Island, Tuamotu Archipelago. Pacific Plant Studies 23. Pac Sci 28(4): 463-465. 1974 |