Forest fallows

Secondary Scrub

This community develops on recently abandoned lands, which are quickly inhabited by fast-growing species that are effectively dispersed and often heliophytic. Many of the latter disappear as scrub is eventually replaced by secondary forest that shades out the understory plants. Characteristic trees include Hibiscus tiliaceus, Macaranga harveyana, Omalanthus nutans, Pipturus argenteus and Trema cannabina.

Secondary Forest

This high forest is dominated by shade-intolerant trees that replaces the secondary scrub. The dominant overstory tree species are Alphitonia zizyphoides, Elattostachys falcata and Rhus taitensis; however, these species are rare in the understory, indicating that they will eventually be replaced by other secondary and primary forest species. Other common secondary forest species include Adenanthera pavonina, Bischofia javanica, Cananga odorata, Dendrocnide harveyi, Dysoxylum spp., Hibiscus tiliaceus, Kleinhovia hospita, Macaranga stipulosa and Neonauclea forsteri.

Most of Swains Island is covered by a woodland of coconut palms (Cocos nucifera) abandoned once copra exports were discontinued. Patches of littoral forest are scattered throughout, but most of the understory consists of an impenetrable thicket of young coconut palms and the birdsnest fern, Asplenium nidus s.l.

last updated: Wednesday, October 6, 2004