Journal of Biogeography, 30, 1311–1328
The phytogeographical affinities of the Pitcairn
Islands – a model for south-eastern Polynesia?
Naomi Kingston1*, Steve Waldren2 and Una Bradley1 1Department of Botany, Trinity
College, Dublin 2, Ireland and 2Trinity College Botanic Gardens, Palmerston Park,
Dartry, Dublin 6, Ireland
Abstract
Aim To identify how the Pitcairn group relates biogeographically to the south-eastern
Polynesian region and if, as a subset of the regions flora, it can then be used as a model
for biogeographical analyses.
Location The Pitcairn group (254¢ S, 13006¢ W) comprises four islands: Pitcairn, a
relatively young, high volcanic Island; Henderson, an uplifted atoll, the uplift caused by
the eruption of Pitcairn; and two atolls, Ducie and Oeno. The remote location, young
age and range of island types found in the Pitcairn Island group makes the group ideal
for the study of island biogeography and evolution.
Methods A detailed literature survey was carried out and several data sets were compiled. Dispersal method, propagule number and range data were collected for each of the
114 species that occurs in the Pitcairn group, and environmental data was also gathered
for islands in Polynesia. Analyses were carried out using non-metric multidimensional
scaling and clustering techniques.
Results The flora of the Pitcairn Islands is derived from the flora of other island groups
in the south-eastern Polynesian region, notably those of the Austral, Society and Cook
Islands. Species with a Pacific-wide distribution dominate the overall Pitcairn group
flora. However, each of the islands show different patterns; Pitcairn is dominated by
species with Pacific, Polynesian and endemic distributions, with anemochory as the
dominant dispersal method (39.5%); Henderson is also dominated by species with
Pacific, Polynesian and endemic distributions, but zoochory is the dominant dispersal
method (59.4); Oeno and Ducie are dominated by Pantropic species with hydrochory as
the most common dispersal method (52.9% and 100%, respectively).
Main conclusions
• Habitat availability is the most significant factor determining the composition and size
of the flora.
• South-east Polynesia is a valid biogeographical unit, and should include the Cook,
Austral, Society, Marquesas, Gambier, Tuamotu and Pitcairn Islands with Rapa, but
should exclude Easter Island, Tonga and Samoa.
• Regionalization schemes should take island type into consideration.
• The Pitcairn Island group can serve as a useful model for Pacific biogeographical
analyses.
Keywords
Colonization, dispersal, habitat diversity, island biogeography, insular biotas,
NMDS, Pitcairn, Sorensen distance, south-eastern Polynesia, UPGMA.
*Correspondence: Naomi Kingston, National Parks and Wildlife, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, 7 Ely Place, Dublin 2, Ireland.
E-mail: nkingston@duchas.ie
2003 Blackwell Publishing Ltd
1312 N. Kingston et al.
INTRODUCTION
Since Schouw (1823) first recognized the Polynesian region,
numerous biogeographical schemes, using virtually all
groups of organisms, have distinguished Polynesia as a
subset of the Indomalayan (Oriental) Realm (Kay, 1979).
Many schemes have also recognized south-eastern Polynesia
as a further subdivision of the Polynesian region, although
the position of the boundaries varies (van Balgooy, 1960,
1971; Gressit, 1963; van Balgooy et al., 1996). The problems associated with dividing south-eastern Polynesia are
best summarized by van Balgooy et al. (1996) who stated
that as a result of the considerable overlap in provinces, the
floristic provinces could not be classified into a hierarchical
system. Stoddart (1992) considers that island type should be
included in biogeographical schemes, as once the relatively
homogeneous biotas of atolls and makatea islands are removed the problem resolves itself into the consideration of
high islands.
Brown (1935) was the first to assess the flora of southeastern Polynesian, dividing it into six regions: Marquesas,
Society, Tuamotu, Austral, Rapa, Pitcairn and Gambier
Islands. However, the information from which these divisions were derived was very limited, with only 251 species
being known from the region at that time, mostly from the
Society and Marquesas Islands (there are currently over 600
species known from the Society Islands alone; Florence,
1987). As many of the collections were very recent, and hence
poorly understood, 87% of these species were thought to be
confined to the Polynesian region, and only two species were
assigned a pantropical distribution. Brown also suggested
that 82% of the species were of American origin.
In terms of general patterns, there is a gradual reduction
in the total number of species from west to east across the
Pacific; islands in the eastern half of the Pacific have
virtually nothing in common with the flora of the Americas; disjunct, discontinuous and patchy distributions are
frequent phenomena; and distribution patterns are associated with island type (Kay, 1979). The biota of atolls are
composed of few species, most of which are widely
distributed on tropical strandlines, while even a slight
elevation is accompanied by a substantial increase in the
floristic diversity (Sachet, 1967; Fosberg, 1984; van
Balgooy et al., 1996). Differences in the flora based on
island type relate to the fact that atolls are ephemeral
structures, subject to constant change and having resulting
ÔweedyÕ native floras exhibiting little endemism, while high
islands have significant species diversity where dynamic
processes of speciation and extinction occur (Brownlie,
1965; Kay, 1979).
We studied the remote Pitcairn group (254¢ S,
13006¢ W), which lies just south of the Tropic of Capricorn, about halfway between New Zealand and South
America. The group comprises four islands: Pitcairn, a relatively young, high volcanic Island; Henderson, an uplifted
atoll, the uplift caused by the eruption of Pitcairn; and two
atolls, Ducie and Oeno. The remote location, relatively
young age and range of island types found in the Pitcairn
Island group makes the group ideal for the study of island
biogeography and evolution. Henderson, Oeno and Ducie
Islands are c. 16, 13 and 8 Myr old, respectively, although
all have undergone cycles of submergence and re-emergence
during that period (Spencer, 1989). Pitcairn Island itself is
< 1 Myr old (Spencer, 1989).
The atolls of Oeno and Ducie have a limited range of
available habitats for plant colonization, and as a result have
a total flora of only 18 and three species, respectively
(Florence et al., 1995). Waldren et al. (1995) identified four
distinct vegetation communities on Oeno; open littoral
vegetation, Argusia argentea L.f. scrub, Closed forest and
Cocos nucifera L. grove. Henderson, the largest island in the
group has 65 species (Florence et al., 1995), having not only
strand habitats as on the atolls, but also cliff and inland
forest communities on the uplifted makatea. Waldren et al.
(1995) identified six main vegetation communities; beachfront communities, embayment forests, open limestone
scrub, cliff and ledge communities, exposed cliff top communities and plateau forests. The nature of Pitcairn Island,
as a high island, means that a more diverse array of habitats
is available than on other islands in the group. Kingston &
Waldren (2003) identified eight main vegetation communities; Metrosideros collina (J.R. Forst. & G. Forst.) A. Gray
woodland, Homalium taypau H.St. John woodland, Syzygium jambos (L.) Alston woodland, Mixed woodland,
weedy scrub, fernlands, coastal rock communities and
coastal scrub communities. Unfortunately, as Pitcairn is the
only inhabited island in the group, human induced habitat
change has resulted in a reduction in the amount of native
forest and significant reduction in the populations of the 81
native species. In addition over 250 species have been
introduced to the island, several of which have become
nuisance invasive species and dominate large tracts of land
(Kingston & Waldren, 2003).
Aims
The aim of this study was to make a biogeographical
assessment for the flora of the Pitcairn group, and to
determine:
• Where the flora came from.
• How the species colonized the island.
• The factors which explain any distribution patterns found.
Using this information it could then be determined how the
Pitcairn group relates biogeographically to the south-eastern
Polynesian region and if, as a subset of the regions flora, it
can then be used as a model for biogeographical analyses.
METHODS
Several separate but related data sets were compiled from
many sources, listed at the end of this section. Only native
plants were used as the natural processes of plant migration
and dispersal were under study, rather than anthropological
progression in the area, and only vascular plants were chosen for use in this study, as these are the groups for which
2003 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Journal of Biogeography, 30, 1311–1328
Phytogeographical model for south-eastern Polynesia 1313
information is most readily available. Finally, only the
114 indigenous species occurring on the Pitcairn group of
islands were used (see Appendix), as the main aim of this
study was to consider the origin and formation of the flora of
the Pitcairn group, rather than a biogeographical analysis of
plant distribution in Polynesia or the Pacific region.
observations made on the Islands of Rimatara, Rurutu,
Tubuai and Raivavae in the Austral Islands, Mangareva in
the Gambier Islands, and Tahiti, Moorea, Huahine and
Raiatea in the Society Islands, during 1997 and 2000 were
also incorporated. A record was kept of all of the data
sources, listed below:
Dispersal data
Species were also assigned one of five dispersal classes based
on the dispersal mechanism employed as follows: 1 ¼
Endozoochory (actively by an animal agent), 2 ¼ Ectozoochory (passively by an animal agent), 3 ¼ Hydrochory
(water dispersal), 4 ¼ Anemochory (wind dispersal), 5 ¼
More than one of the dispersal mechanisms 1–4. The number of propagules in a single dispersed unit was also recorded
to allow quantification of the number of potential colonizing
individuals that could arise from a single dispersal event.
Australian Biological Fosberg &
Resources
Renvoize (1980)
Study (1993)
Australian Biological Fosberg & Sachet
Resources
(1967)
Study (1994)
Bridson (1985)
Fosberg & Sachet
(1981)
Brooke et al. (1996) Fosberg (1973)
Brown & Brown
Fosberg et al.
(1931)
(1983)
Brown (1931)
Gothesson (1997)
Brown (1935)
Hallé (1980)
Distribution data
Species were assigned one of seven general distribution
classes, based on their global distributions as follows:
1 ¼ Pantropic/Transpacific, 2 ¼ Old World, 3 ¼ IndoMalesian, 4 ¼ Australian, 5 ¼ Pacific, 6 ¼ Polynesian,
7 ¼ Endemic to Pitcairn group.
Range data
The world-wide range, as presence or absence in defined
geographical units (Fig. 1), for each native vascular plant
species and genus in the Pitcairn Island group was compiled.
Species for which native synonymy or status was uncertain
were included (e.g. Hibiscus tiliaceus L., Thespesia populnea
(L.) Sol. ex Corrêa); in most cases these species were widespread pantropical Indo-Pacific species, and thus did not
affect the resulting data analysis. For some endemic species,
especially those for which the synonymy and status was
uncertain, the distribution of closely related species was also
compiled.
Environmental data
Environmental parameters for each island group in the
Polynesian region were also collated, including: latitude and
longitude, land area, altitude, maximum age (that the islands
have been above sea level), island types (whether atolls, atoll
and makatea, high volcanic islands or all island types), total
species number, % endemism, ecosystem number (the
number of broad terrestrial or marine ecosystem types, based
where possible on an existing classification or estimated
from the island description and structure, from Dahl, 1980;
UNEP-Earthwatch, 1998) and invasive index (the threat
represented by invasive introduced species rated on both on
the number of such species and their aggressiveness in island
situations, from Dahl, 1980; UNEP-Earthwatch, 1998).
Data collation
Data were sourced where possible from recently completed
floras, but in other cases from taxonomic literature, websites
and older floras. In addition, information was taken from
various general books relating to the Pacific Islands. Field
2003 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Journal of Biogeography, 30, 1311–1328
Royal Botanic
Gardens Kew (1993)
Sherff (1926)
Skottsberg
(1920–1956)
Skottsberg (1922a)
Skottsberg (1922b)
Brownlie (1961)
Brownlie (1965)
Heads (1996)
Heywood (1978)
Brownsey (1977)
Cheesman (1903)
Holttum (1964)
Holttum (1973)
Christensen &
Skottsberg (1920a)
Christensen &
Skottsberg (1920b)
Clague (1996)
Copeland (1932)
Copeland (1938)
Holttum (1976)
Skottsberg (1951)
St. John & Philipson
(1962)
St. John (1987)
Stoddart & Sachet
(1969)
Stoddart (1975)
UNEP-Earthwatch
(1998)
van Balgooy (1971)
Holttum (1978)
van Balgooy (1975)
Copeland (1947)
Doty (1954)
Florence (1996)
Florence (1997a)
Florence (1987)
Florence (1997b)
Florence et al.
(1995)
Holttum (1985)
Huguenin (1974)
Hunt et al. (2000)
van Balgooy (1984)
van Balgooy (1993)
van Steenis &
van Balgooy (1966)
Lam (1938)
van Steenis (1963)
McCormack (2000) Waldren et al. (1995)
Merrill (1947)
Waldren et al. (1999)
Mueller-Dombois
Wheeler & Carillet
& Fosberg (1998)
(1997)
Oliver (1935)
Wilder (1934)
Rougerie (1995)
Yuncker (1937)
Royal Botanic
Zizka (1991)
Gardens Kew
(1906–1996)
Data analysis
Exploratory analysis of the range data were carried out using
cluster analyses with the Sørensen coefficient as a distance
measure, and group averaging as the clustering procedure
(an agglomerative clustering method, sometimes referred to
as unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean
(UPGMA). The ordination technique of non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) using the Sørensen coefficient
was also carried out to further visualize the data set. In order
to determine what environmental variables could explain the
variation found in the NMDS dimensions, the final NMDS
output for the regions was correlated with the environmental
data set, using Spearman rank correlations. PC-ORD for
windows ver. 3.2 (McCune & Mefford, 1997) was used for
the data analysis. Maps were compiled using ArcView GIS
ver. 3.1.
1314 N. Kingston et al.
Eurasia
North
America
East Asia
South-east
Asia
Africa
Philippines
Malesia
Hawaiian
Islands
Central
America
Micronesia
Central
Polynesia
West
Melanesia
East
Melanesia
South
America
West
Polynesia
Easter
Island
Australia
Juan Fernandez
Islands
New Zealand
N
5000
0
5000 Kilometers
N
Central
Polynesia
Marquesas
Islands
West
Polynesia
Cook
Islands
King George
Dissapointment
Islands
North-west
Islands
group Pallisier
Islands
Centre-west
Society
East
group
group
Islands
Centre-east
group
Duke of Gloucester
Islands
Austral
Islands
South Acteon
Islands group
Gambier
Islands
Pitcairn
Islands
Rapa
New
Zealand
1000
0
1000 Kilometers
Figure 1 Geographical units to which species were assigned presence or absence in order to compile their world-wide ranges. The geographical
units are delimited based on a combination of van Balgooy (1971) for the larger continents and landmasses, Mueller-Dombois & Fosberg
(1998) for the Pacific islands, and UNEP-Earthwatch (1998) for the Tuamotu island subdivisions.
2003 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Journal of Biogeography, 30, 1311–1328
Phytogeographical model for south-eastern Polynesia 1315
Table 2 shows the dispersal mechanism for species in each
of the distribution classes, and some patterns can be established. Pantropic species are mostly water dispersed, with all
the wind-dispersed species being pteridophytes. Old world
species are also most likely to be water dispersed, but there
are an increasing number of zoochorous species. Pacific,
Polynesian and endemic species however, are more likely to
be dispersed by an animal agent, in particular through bird
ingestion. Dispersal using a single propagule dominates all
distribution classes, but increasing numbers of species in the
Pacific, Polynesian and Endemic classes contain more than
one propagule in their dispersed unit. This explains the
increased number of Pacific-wide species on Pitcairn, as
dispersal is more likely to be successful when the distance is
reduced, and a population is most likely to establish if more
than one propagule arrives in a dispersal event.
As complete species lists are available for all of the islands
in the Pitcairn group, it is possible to further analyse distribution and dispersal within the island group. Figure 2 shows
the percentage of the total flora in each of the seven worldwide distribution classes. Pitcairn and Henderson show
similar patterns, with over 45% of the species being distributed within the Pacific region (Pacific, Polynesian and
endemic distribution categories). The atolls of Oeno and
Ducie however differ in that the dominant element in their
flora is Old World and pantropic. van Balgooy (1960) and
Sachet (1967) also conclude that the highest percentages of
widely distributed species are found on atolls.
Each of the islands in the Pitcairn group show differing
patterns in terms of dispersal mechanisms (Fig. 3). The
dominant dispersal mechanism for the Pitcairn flora is
anemochory (39.5%), explained by the large number of
pteridophyte species in the flora, as is typical for high
islands. Zoochory is the most common method found in
the Henderson flora (59.4%), and hydrochory the most
common for both Oeno and Ducie (52.9% and 100%
respectively). This pattern is expected due the nature of
pantropic and Old World species being dispersed by
hydrochory, and the fact that these atolls are dominated by
species with such distributions. The smaller atoll floras are
also more likely to contain species that can be dispersed in
more than one way. This accounts for the success of these
species in colonizing even the remotest island (i.e. Ducie),
where 66.6% of the flora is dispersed in more than one
RESULTS & DISCUSSION
Colonization of the flora
An assessment of the dispersal mechanisms employed by the
flora, found that of the four dispersal mechanisms assigned
to the species, zoochory is the most frequent mechanism for
dispersal, with active rather than passive methods prevailing
(Table 1). Anemochory is also frequent but rarely found in
the angiosperms. Zoochorous mechanisms involving a single
propagule are by far the most frequent, being found 35 times
in the data set (29.7% of cases). Both hydrochory and
endozoochory are the mechanisms in which more than one
colonizer may be dispersed in a single dispersal event, but in
many cases of ectozoochory more than one propagule will
attach to the dispersal agent. In theory a single propagule
seems unlikely to result in successful dispersal events, however in practice some species are capable of self-fertilization,
and many pteridophyte species can reproduce vegetatively
by apogamy and apospory (Miller, 1968). Thus even if a
single propagule reaches an island it may result in successful
colonization.
Species with a Pacific-wide distribution dominate the
Pitcairn flora (21.1%; see Table 2), with Old world,
pantropic and endemic species also forming a large component. There were no species recorded with an American
distribution. Pteridophytes tend to have more widespread
distributions and the Pitcairn flora is typical, with eight of
the 31 pteridophyte species having pantropic distributions.
Table 1 Occurrence of the four dispersal mechanism in the Pitcairn
flora, and the number of propagules dispersed in each case
Propagule number
Mechanism*
1
2
3–6
Endozoochory
Ectozoochory
Hydrochory
Anemochory
14
21
14
34
7
1
8
0
Total
83
16
7–10
10þ
Total
4
3
3
0
6
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
32
25
27
34
10
7
2
*Eleven species employ more than one mechanism.
Thirty-one pteridophytes and three angiosperms (Taeniophyllum
fasciola, Metrosideros collina and Senecio stokesii).
Table 2 The number of Pitcairn group
species occurring in each distribution and
dispersal class. The percentage of the total
native flora is in parentheses after the species
number
Dispersal class
Distribution class
World-wide/
Transpacific
Old World
Indo-Malesian
Australian
Pacific
Polynesian
Endemic
2003 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Journal of Biogeography, 30, 1311–1328
Total
species (%)
19 (16.7)
23
8
6
24
15
19
(20.2)
(7.02)
(5.26)
(21.1)
(13.1)
(16.7)
Endozoochory Ectozoochory
Hydrochory
Anemochory
1
0
11
8
4
2
2
13
7
10
5
0
1
2
4
6
11
1
0
5
4
1
6
5
3
7
4
2
1316 N. Kingston et al.
Geographical origins of the flora
100
% Total species
80
Endemics
Polynesian
Pacific
Australia
Indo-Malesian
Old World
Pantropic
60
40
20
0
Pitcairn
Henderson
Oeno
Ducie
Figure 2 Percentage of species in each of the even distribution
classes, calculated for each of the islands in the Pitcairn group.
% Total species
100
80
2 methods
Anemochory
Hydrochory
Ectozoochory
Endozoochory
60
40
20
0
Pitcairn (81) Henderson Oeno (17)
(64)
Ducie (3)
Figure 3 Percentage of species in each of the five dispersal classes,
calculated for each of the islands in the Pitcairn group. Total number
of species from each island is indicated in brackets.
way (the two species Lepturus repens (G.Forst.) R.Br. &
Argusia argentea).
A cluster analysis of the Pitcairn flora using the range data
set is shown in Fig. 4, with the dispersal mechanisms for
each species overlaid. The species endemic to the Pitcairn
group form cluster one, and these species are predominately
dispersed by zoochory. The second cluster contains all
species with narrow distributions in Polynesia, but with
various dispersal methods. The third cluster contains a large
proportion of water dispersed (hydrochorous) species that
dominate the strand lines of all Polynesian islands and the
low-lying wooded interiors of atolls. Cluster four contains
species that are found in the interior of high islands, with
some separation between the taxa found on both volcanic
and makatea islands, from those confined to volcanic islands
only in the lower part of the cluster. The cluster diagram
thus shows putative ecological groupings, suggesting that the
species occurring on an island strongly relate to the habitats
available, and to a lesser extent to the dispersal ability of the
species. It also suggests that species evolve a dispersal
mechanism appropriate to habitat, with strand species being
water dispersed, while inland and higher altitude species are
wind and bird dispersed.
A cluster analysis of the range data (Fig. 5) places the Cook,
Society and Austral Islands together with East Melanesia,
and West Polynesia, the Pitcairn, Marquesas and Gambier
Islands and Rapa on branches from this. The atoll cluster
grouped all of the Tuamotu islands together, and close to
Central Polynesia. At the top of the cluster diagram is a
group of the regions to the west of Polynesia, and below is a
group of the islands and continents to the east of Polynesia.
This shows that the Pitcairn group has the least similarities
with Eurasia, which is not represented as it has no common
species with the Pitcairn Island group, and America, and
Pacific islands to the east of Pitcairn (i.e. Easter, Juan Fernandez and East Pacific Islands), and the highest similarities
with the other south-east Polynesian island groups.
To further explore these relationships within southeastern Polynesia, Venn diagrams were drawn to show the
relationships between the floras of the Society, Austral and
Cook Island groups based on the Pitcairnese element in their
floras (Fig. 6a). Only seven species were not found on the
Austral Islands, but six species are only found in the Austral
group. This suggests that the flora of the Pitcairn group is
most closely related to the flora of the Austral Islands.
Figure 6b shows the comparable relationship for the Austral,
Gambier Islands and Rapa, and while Rapa and the Gambier
are geographically closer to Pitcairn, they are less closely
associated to Pitcairn floristically than the Austral Islands.
The strongest associations with the Society, Austral and
Cook Islands are because these island groups also contain all
of the island types found in the Pitcairn islands and are
found at comparable latitudes. However, they have larger
floras as they are closer to the main floristic source (the IndoMalesian region) and have a larger area. The relationship is,
therefore, due the Pitcairn flora being essentially a subset of
the larger flora of these island groups. This is supported by
several species being endemic to the Austral Islands, Rapa
and the Pitcairn Islands (e.g. Hibiscus australense Fosberg,
Peperomia rapensis F.Br., Senecio stokesii F.Br.).
Within the Pitcairn group itself, Pitcairn and Oeno
showed the lowest similarity, having only 10 shared species,
while the highest similarity was between Henderson and
Pitcairn with 33 common species (Fig. 6c). However, 17
species were common to Henderson and Oeno, which is over
90% of the Oeno flora. Ducie was not included here as only
three widespread species have been ever recorded from the
island, and in the most recent survey only two species
(Pemphis acidula JR. & G.Forst. and Argusia argentea),
both of which are recorded from Pitcairn and Henderson.
The 23 species common to Henderson and Pitcairn, but not
found on Oeno, are inland species, not supported on the low
lying atoll habitats found on Oeno. The 48 species found
only on Pitcairn are high volcanic island species found on the
high slopes and volcanic soils of Pitcairn. These species
would not be tolerant of the limestone and associated dry
habitats found on Henderson (e.g. various pteridophytes
which generally require a humid habitat). Similarly, the 25
species found only on Henderson are adapted to the dry
2003 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Journal of Biogeography, 30, 1311–1328
Phytogeographical model for south-eastern Polynesia 1317
Figure 4 Cluster diagram of Pitcairn species
based on their distribution in Polynesia.
Differences in formatting relate to dispersal
mechanism with: Endozoochory (bold);
Ectozoochory (small caps); Hydrochory
(underlined); Anemochory (italicized). For
species dispersed by more then one mechanism the branch label is formatted twice. The
clustering procedure uses Sørensen distance
and the group average linkage method.
2003 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Journal of Biogeography, 30, 1311–1328
1318 N. Kingston et al.
Figure 5 Cluster diagram of regions based
on the distribution of Pitcairn species. The
clustering procedure uses Sørensen distance
and the group average linkage method.
limestone habitat and absent from the damper or more
shaded high island habitats. In addition, several strand species are found on Henderson and not on Oeno, owing to the
larger area of the island and the presence of coastal cliff
habitats.
If the origins of the endemic flora of the Pitcairn group are
also considered, the link with the Cook, Society, Austral
chain is reinforced. Table 3 shows the island groups with
species closely related to the Pitcairn endemics and thus
islands from where these endemics may have originated. It
should be noted that these relationships are largely speculative and have not been tested phylogenetically, being based
both on generic distributions in the Pacific and reviews in the
literature. The strongest floristic affinities are found with
Rapa and the Austral Islands, as well as the Society and
Cook Islands, thus reinforcing the other analyses. The close
association with Rapa is unexpected based on the previous
analyses, but there are actually only 12 species from the
Pitcairn group not found on Rapa. Considering the strength
of the association between the Austral and Pitcairn groups,
however, the affinities with Rapa may not be due to a direct
link, but rather both Pitcairn and Rapa may have been
separately colonized by ancestral species from the Austral
Islands, which in some cases then speciated separately. An
example is demonstrated in the genus Peperomia which has
a high degree of genetic plasticity, and thus an ability to
radiate and speciate into different habitats. Molecular analyses have indicated that P. pitcairnensis (Lauterb.) C. DC is
related to P. rapensis, a species also found in the Australs
and Rapa. Peperomia hendersonensis Yuncker and an as yet
undescribed species from Pitcairn are closely related to
P. pallida (G.Forst.) A.Dietr. (distributed from Tonga in the
west to French Polynesia in the east), and detailed molecular
studies have revealed that P. hendersonensis and P. sp. nov.
are most closely related to populations on P. pallida on the
Austral Islands of Rurutu and Raivavae (Bradley, 2002). In
addition, there are five other species common between Rapa
and the Pitcairn group with closely related species in the
Austral Islands, so there is undoubtedly a strong biogeographical link between the islands.
Causal factors of these distribution patterns
In order to determine if environmental gradients could
account for the distribution patterns found, an NMDS
ordination of the range data set for the Polynesian island
groups was carried out, and the environmental data for each
island group was correlated with the dimension scores. A
five-dimensional solution gave the lowest stress values, with
23% of the variation explained by dimension 1, 66% by
dimension 2, and < 5% by each of axes 3–5. A Monte Carlo
test of 100 runs was carried out with the NMDS to test for
robustness in the data set and showed P < 0.01 for all
dimensions.
The Pitcairn group had a score of almost zero on dimension 1 and ordinates closely to all of the island groups with
the exception of the Hawaiian group (Fig. 7). Longitude and
total number of plants were the only environmental variables to correlate with dimension 1 (P < 0.05 in both cases;
Table 4) and they would explain the separation of the
Hawaiian islands, as they have a much higher total plant
number and a higher longitude than the other island groups.
Dimension 2 separated the Tuamotu islands with negative
scores from the other island groups with positive scores, and
correlated with altitude, island type, invasive index, % plant
endemism (P < 0.01 in all cases) and total plants
2003 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Journal of Biogeography, 30, 1311–1328
Phytogeographical model for south-eastern Polynesia 1319
(a)
Society
Islands
Austral
Islands
8
1
6
66
5
2
1
Cook
Islands
(b)
Austral
Islands
Gambier
Islands
19
12
1
34
17
2
4
Rapa & Marotiri
rocks
(c)
Henderson
Islands
Pitcairn
Islands
23
48
25
10
0
7
1
Oeno
Atoll
Figure 6 Venn diagrams to show the relationship between the
Pitcairnese element in floras of: (a) the Society, Austral and Cook
Islands; (b) the Austral and Gambier Islands and Rapa; (c) the
islands in the Pitcairn group. Each circle represents the flora of the
island group, with the overlap representing the number of common
species in the floras of the islands.
2003 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Journal of Biogeography, 30, 1311–1328
(P < 0.05). Much more of the variation is explained by dimension 2 (66%) and so this may explain why so many
environmental factors correlate. This division would be
expected as the Tuamotu islands only contains the island
type of atolls which are by nature low in altitude and have
few endemic species. In addition, they tend to be less
inhabited and so have fewer invasive species.
As climatic factors, sea currents, sea levels and island
geologies do not remain static, it is necessary to look at past
environments in discussing the plant colonization of the
Pitcairn group. In the period since the formation of the
islands in the Pitcairn group, sea levels have probably not
been lower than c. 150 m below current sea levels (Menard,
1964; Spencer, 1989; Pirazzoli, 1996). However, during
periods of high sea levels before the formation of Pitcairn,
Oeno, Ducie and Henderson (then an atoll) may have been
totally submerged during certain periods, thus removing all
of the terrestrial biota. Since the formation of Pitcairn and
subsequent uplift of Henderson, there have been terrestrial
habitats above water even during periods of high sea levels.
During periods of low sea level there are several seamounts
that may have been above water level and supported a terrestrial biota. Figure 8 shows the locations of seamounts and
reefs that may have formed islands during such periods, and
there would have been a number of emergent islands in the
vicinity of Pitcairn, most notably to the west. There are also
a number of seamounts and reefs around the Austral Islands,
Rapa, the Cook Islands and across towards Fiji (in East
Melanesia and the source of most of the Polynesian flora).
Aside from a volcanic seamount close to Pitcairn, and
another near Henderson, there are no seamounts or reefs
between Pitcairn and Easter Island. The presence of these
potential islands during cooler, windier and stormier periods
would have allowed them to act as additional stepping
stones for species to migrate to and colonize Pitcairn. Stepping stone islands are important to species whose propagules
tend to be dispersed by zoochory, hydrochory or on floating
rafts (e.g. reptiles, small mammals and arthropods can be
carried on floating vegetation), and less important to
anemochorous species (MacArthur & Wilson, 1967).
In van Balgooy’s (1960, 1971) biogeographical regional
analyses of the Pacific, Rapa is segregated into its own region,
separate to the Polynesian region, to which it is geologically
more associated. This division is based on the fact that the
flora is more closely associated with that of Australia and
New Zealand and forms a more southern element than that
of Polynesia. It is interesting to note that there are several
submerged reefs and banks to the south-west of Rapa
towards New Zealand that could have acted as stepping
stone islands for non-Polynesian species and genera to colonize Rapa (e.g. Corokia – found in New Zealand, Australia
and Rapa; Hebe – found in New Zealand, Australia, Rapa
and the Falklands). This theory might also account for some
of the southern transpacific element found in the Pitcairn
flora, notably Samolus repens, found in Australia, New
Zealand, Pitcairn, Easter Island and South America, and
Asplenium obtusatum G. Forst. found in Australia, New
Zealand, Polynesia, Easter Island and South America.
1320 N. Kingston et al.
Table 3 Locations of species that may be closely related to the endemic species found in the Pitcairn group
Genus
Abutilon
Alyxia
Angiopteris
Bidens
Coprosma
Ctenitis
Geniostoma
Glochidion
Haloragis*
Homalium
Ixora
Meryta
Myrsine
Nesoluma
Peperomia
Total
East
Melanesia
New
Zealand
West
Polynesia
Cook
Island
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
Society
Island
Austral
Island
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
11
11
13
4
4
4
4
3
5
Rapa
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
Marquesas
Island
Tuamotu
Island
Gambier
Island
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
Hawaiian
Island
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
13
9
7
7
4
3
*Putative endemic, the taxonomy of the Pitcairn material is uncertain.
Table 4 Spearmans rank correlation for environmental variables
with NMDS dimensions 1 and 2
Latitude
Longitude
Area (km2)
Altitude
Maximum age (Myr)
Island type
Ecosystem number
Invasive index
Total plants
% Plant endemism
Dimension 1
Dimension 2
0.391n.s.
0.706*
0.418n.s.
0.454n.s.
0.248n.s.
0.470n.s.
0.195n.s.
0.387n.s.
0.602*
0.397n.s.
0.356n.s.
0.150n.s.
0.153n.s.
0.798**
)0.395n.s
0.791**
0.332n.s.
0.758**
0.679*
0.839**
n.s. > 0.05; *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01.
Figure 7 NMDS ordinations, with dimension 1 plotted against
dimension 2, for Polynesian islands. Key: Cent.-E, Centre east
group; Cent.-W, Centre west group; Diss., Disappointment islands;
King, King George islands; Marq., Marquesas islands; Pall., Pallisier
islands. Arrows indicate direction of environmental variables.
Approximately 40 birds have been recorded from either
the islands of the Pitcairn group or crossing the ocean area
between the islands, and at least four landbirds became
extinct during the period of Polynesian habitation (Brooke,
1995; Wragg, 1995). Most of the sea birds and migrants are
opportunists, feeding primarily on fish or squid, but the
landbirds are commonly either omnivores or frugivores
(Brooke & Jones, 1995; Imber et al., 1995; Jones et al.,
1995; Trevelyan, 1995). Studies on the feeding biology of
the Henderson fruit dove (Ptilinopus insularis North) show
that it feeds on the fruits of 19 species (Brooke & Jones,
1995). Two extinct frugivores, a ground dove (Gallicolumba
sp.) and a pigeon (Ducula sp.), would have browsed from a
similar number of species, but also probably from species
with larger fruits (e.g. Santalum insulare Bertero) (Brooke &
2003 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Journal of Biogeography, 30, 1311–1328
Phytogeographical model for south-eastern Polynesia 1321
Figure 8 Locations of seamounts and reefs that may have emergent islands during periods of lowered sea levels ()150 m). Potential islands are
marked with grey crosses. Figure is derived from charts 4607 and 4061 of the Admiralty series.
Jones, 1995). In addition, the migrant Bristle-thighed curlew
(Numenius tahitensis Gmelin) and the Stephen’s Lory (Vini
stepheni North) have been observed feeding on fruits
(Brooke & Jones, 1995). These frugivores would have acted
as dispersers for the plant species through the Pitcairn islands
and farther afield, and there are almost certainly other migrant and vagrant birds that feed on fruit, but have not been
observed doing so in the Pitcairn group.
Discrepancies in the phytogeographical patterns
Looking at the distribution of species within the Pitcairn
group also raises some questions as to why certain species
are not more widely dispersed within the archipelago.
Homalium taypau is an example of an endemic species that
is confined to the volcanic interior slopes of Pitcairn Island.
Closely related species occur in the Cook and Austral
Islands, but in the Austral Islands a Homalium species is
found growing on both volcanic and makatea substrates.
Homalium taypau could in theory, therefore, occur on
Henderson Island. It seems unusual that a species so dominant on Pitcairn does not occur on nearby Henderson,
especially as the species is probably bird dispersed. The
explanation may lie in the fact that many Homalium species
require a disturbance event (such as a severe storm or
cyclone) to flower and set seed (G. McCormack, pers.
2003 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Journal of Biogeography, 30, 1311–1328
comm., 2000), and as such disturbances are not common on
Pitcairn, this dispersal has not had a chance to occur. Other
species that occur on Henderson, but could also occur on
Pitcairn include Senecio stokesii, Geniostoma hendersonensis H.St. John and Nesoluma st-johnianum Lam & B.
Meeuse (based on observations of these or closely related
species occurring on volcanic substrates in the Austral
Islands).
As well as considering species that could be more
widespread within the archipelago, it is also necessary to
examine the many species and genera that do not occur in
the Pitcairn group but could do so based on their distributions and habitat requirements. Cyrtandra is one such
genus occurring in Malesia and the Pacific islands including the Cook, Society, Austral and Marquesas Islands,
and has speciated widely on these islands. It is a genus of
herbs and shrubs that occur in forest undergrowth, and
may be dispersed by both endozoochory and hydrochory
(van Steenis & van Balgooy, 1966). It would be ideally
suited to forest habitats on Pitcairn Island, but is not
found there. Colubrina asiatica Brongn. is a pantropic
species, found extensively in Polynesia, and typical of
seashore, rocky and forest habitats at low elevations. It is
dispersed by flotation and this mechanism has proved very
successful in its widespread colonization of remote locations. It would be suited to all of the Pitcairn Islands,
1322 N. Kingston et al.
especially Oeno and Henderson. Byttneria is a genus made
up mostly of American and Madagascan species. It has an
unusual distribution in the Pacific, not being found in
Melanesia or western Polynesia, but in the Society, Marquesas and Gambier Islands. It is thus one of the few
species in Polynesia derived from recent American origin.
It is a genus of forest shrubs and climbers that are dispersed by ectozoochory. As it has a limited distribution in
the eastern Pacific, it is perhaps not surprising that Byttneria is not found in the Pitcairn group, but due to the
proximity of the Gambier high islands to Pitcairn, it
would seem reasonably likely that it would be dispersed
there.
Because of its remoteness, the flora of the Pitcairn group is
a subset of the larger flora of south-east Polynesia, notably
the Austral, Cook and Society Islands. Therefore, the fact
that these genera and species do not occur may be due to the
simple fact that they have not yet colonized. The Pitcairn
group is also out of the line of cyclones which affect the
Cook, Society and Austral Islands, and thus aid dispersal
between these groups. The most recent records found for the
Pitcairn group are in many cases coastal species that occur in
very small population numbers (e.g. Samolus repens,
Ipomoea littoralis Blume, Haloragis sp.) which may be very
recent colonizers, or may have been overlooked by previous
surveys. This supports the idea that species such as Colubrina asiatica may either have not yet arrived in the group, or
may have been overlooked. Similarly these species may have
existed in the past on Pitcairn and become extinct due to the
natural species turnover cycle which has been suggested for
islands which are at equilibrium (MacArthur & Wilson,
1967).
Problems with the data set
There is a large potential for error in compiling and
analysing data of this sort. In many cases, the floras are
unknown or under collected, especially as many early
collectors were mainly interested in useful and food plants
and a full floristic survey has not been carried out for
many of the Pacific islands. In addition many collections
have incomplete location information, often simply citing
an island group or region. These problems are discussed
further in van Balgooy (1971), Fosberg (1984) and Chown
et al. (1998). Misidentified specimens, and errors in the
published record are all too common and seriously affect
analyses of this sort (Spellerberg & Sawyer, 1999). This is
less of a problem when dealing at the genus level, but may
be a major source of error at the species level (van
Balgooy, 1971). Examples of this include a record of a
Coprosma sp. from Tubuai which was a Psidium sp.
Coprosma spp. are some of the most biogeographically
important in the Pacific, while Psidium spp. are introduced
invasive species. Obsolete synonymy also causes confusion
and many of the species from the Pacific region require
taxonomic revisions.
Because of the nature of island floras containing narrow endemic species, there is also a danger that species
may have become extinct since human occupation of the
island, and so are not recorded. There are many examples of taxa, in particular useful plants, whose distribution would have a major affect on this analysis, and may
have become extinct on many Pacific islands (e.g. Santalum spp. now extinct on Juan Fernandez, remaining in
the Austral islands on only one motu). In this data set
the presence/absence method has been used, but without
accounting for pseudo-absences (taxon exists but has not
yet been recorded) or reversal-absences (because of the
extinction of the taxon from a geographical region).
When compiling this data set it was often difficult to
assign a species to a distribution class based on its current area of occupancy, and the low number of Australian and Indo-Malesian species may be due to
misclassification.
Only vascular plants are considered in this analysis as it
is the relationships and origins of the Pitcairn group
vascular flora that are of interest here. Further studies
should undoubtedly consider other taxonomic groups.
However, Carson (1996) suggested that biogeography
could not exist without considering plants, as their distributions are not only more stable than in animals, but
also frequently serve as specific determinant substrates of
various animal species.
van Balgooy (1971) argues strongly for the use of the
genus as a working unit in biogeographical analyses,
mainly because at the genus level one is less likely to
encounter problems with synonymy or poorly defined species. He does, however, concede that the species distributions give a clearer and more detailed Ôphytogeographical
pictureÕ. Tryon (1986) in his biogeographical analysis of
fern species does not consider genera, as he considers the
basic biogeographical features to be those of species. Using
the genus as a working unit also means that widespread
genera (e.g. Asplenium; Peperomia) will show no biogeographical patterns, but the same genera have many species
which show biogeographically interesting and useful distributions in the Pacific and Polynesia. Thus studies at the
level of genus may fail to pick up some biogeographical
patterns at the large scale, the scale of interest in this study.
Other disadvantages inherent to the generic method are
that genera, whether large or small, are treated at the same
level, and also genera are not uniformly known with some
being the subject of recent revisions, and some not (van
Balgooy, 1960).
Ideally a study at this scale would consider island by
island distributions and thus be able to pick up more differences by island type, as recommended by Stoddart
(1992). Unfortunately, however, as such island by island
floristic data are not yet available, an analysis such as that
would increase the effect of pseudo-absences in the data
set. Steps are being taken to rectify this situation in initiatives such as the ongoing ÔFlore de la Polynésie françaiseÕ
(J. Florence, pers. comm., 1997) and the ÔCook Island
Natural Heritage ProjectÕ (G. McCormack & E. Saul, pers.
comm., 2000). In contrast to Stoddart (1992), however,
Whittaker (1998) argues that if island by island data are
2003 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Journal of Biogeography, 30, 1311–1328
Phytogeographical model for south-eastern Polynesia 1323
used there is a complicating effect of within-archipelago
rather than island-mainland distance effects.
Implications of this analysis in terms of Pacific
biogeography
Stoddart (1992) discusses the difficulties associated with
existing biogeographical schemes, and suggests taking island
type into consideration as the best solution. This study
supports this idea, but finds that it is not island type alone,
but also habitat availability that may be the most important
factors affecting species distributions in the Pacific region.
Thus the results here echo MacArthur & Wilson (1967) who
also suggested that ultimately habitat availability would be
found to be the dominant factor affecting the assembly of
island biotas.
The results presented here show that as the Pitcairn group
contains all of the island types, it provides a simplified model
of species distribution patterns. Differences are clearly seen
between the floristics of a species poor remote atoll (Ducie),
a less remote and slightly more diverse atoll (Oeno), a
makatea island (Henderson) and a high island (Pitcairn). The
results also suggest that analyses in future should look at the
distribution of habitats to explain floristic distributions.
However, the same habitats on different islands do not
necessarily contain the same species, as some islands have
higher species diversity due to other factors. An example
would be a comparison between Metrosideros collinadominated cloud forest on Tahiti and Pitcairn. On Tahiti
this forest type occurs at high altitudes (1000 mþ; MuellerDombois & Fosberg, 1998), and with many diverse plant
species in the community, while on Pitcairn it occurs at
lower altitudes (200 mþ) and with fewer plant species
diversity. Direct comparison of the similarity between the
habitat types, is difficult and would not explain phytogeographical relationships between the islands. However, the
consideration of habitat types in conjunction with the actual
species present, may prove to resolve many of the problems
associated with phytogeographical regionalization systems.
CONCLUSIONS
The flora of the Pitcairn Islands is derived from the flora of
the other island groups in the south-eastern Polynesian
region, notably those of the Austral, Society and Cook
Islands. The flora would seem to be predominantly derived
from that of the Austral Islands. The Polynesian flora is in
turn derived largely from the flora of the Indo-Malesian
region. The migration methods of the flora are closely linked
to the habitats in which the taxa occur, with strand species
arriving through hydrochory, while taxa that occur farther
inland arriving through zoochory and anemochory. Therefore, it is not simply dispersal of propagules to islands which
limits their occurrence, but also the availability of a vacant
niche in which they can establish a viable population before
events that might lead to their extinction are experienced.
In terms of regionalization of the Pacific, the results of this
analysis using Pitcairn group floristic data only suggest that
2003 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Journal of Biogeography, 30, 1311–1328
south-east Polynesia is a valid biogeographical unit. This
unit should contain the Cook, Austral, Society, Marquesas,
Gambier, Tuamotu and Pitcairn Islands with Rapa, but
exclude Easter Island, Tonga and Samoa. This disagrees with
most biogeographical regionalizations published to date,
notably in the inclusion of the Cook Islands and exclusion of
Easter Island (see van Balgooy, 1971; Stoddart, 1992).
However, the closeness of the association between the
Pitcairn group and the Cook Islands found in this analysis,
closer even than with the Marquesas Islands, suggests that
this inclusion is valid.
The study presented here contradicts the conclusions of
Brown (1935) that the flora of the region is of American
origin; no features of the flora of Pitcairn are of American
origin. In addition Brown describes the flora as being 87%
confined to the Polynesian region, with only two pantropic
species. This study also shows this not to be the case.
Brown’s (1935) research was based on limited knowledge of
the Polynesian floras (his work was confined to the
Marquesas Islands, and most of the other island groups had
not yet been surveyed), and was at a time when new species
were being described without proper comparisons between
collections from other islands (Spellerberg & Sawyer, 1999).
Even so, his was the first analysis to note both the high
degree of endemism in the flora, and the floristic affinities
between Rapa and New Zealand (van Balgooy, 1971).
Stoddart (1992) discussed the limitations of previous
regional schemes, but did not carry out an analysis or add to
the schemes already in place. He did however recommend
that analysis should take island type into consideration when
developing regional schemes, a factor taken into consideration in this study and indeed shown to have an effect. Having
struggled with the problem of the phytogeographical
regionalization of the Pacific (van Balgooy, 1960, 1971), van
Balgooy et al. (1996) supports Stoddart’s view that a hierarchical system of regions is impractical and classifications
should be based on the patterns shown in analyses based on
island type.
Although the flora of the Pitcairn group is essentially a
subset of the flora of the Polynesian region, the results of this
analyses still show the biogeographical relationships found
when using a larger data set for the whole of Pacific. This
demonstrates that although the Pitcairn Island group has a
impoverished and disharmonic flora, due to its age and
location, the fact that the group contains all of the oceanic
island types found in the region, and thus a representative
sample of the habitats available in the region, means it can
serve as a useful model for Pacific biogeographical analyses.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We thank the Pitcairn Island Council and Pitcairn Islands
Commission for logistical support in the field. Support was
received from UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office,
Linnaean Society of London, Royal Geographic Society,
Trinity College Dublin Association and Trust, Royal Horticultural Society, Systematics Association, Merlin Trust,
Percy Sladen Memorial Fund, Oleg Polunin Trust, Air New
1324 N. Kingston et al.
Zealand, Air Tahiti and Skye Instruments. Thanks to
Dr Mike Brooke and Dr Jacques Florence for species information, and to Dr Jane Stout for comments on this manuscript.
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BIOSKETCHES
Naomi Kingston is currently a postdoctoral researcher in
the Department of Botany of Trinity College Dublin
working on disjunct phytogeographical patterns in the
European flora. Her PhD (2001) involved research in a
broad number of areas including floristics, vegetation
analysis and mapping, conservation genetics and island
biogeography, using the study site of the Pitcairn Islands.
Steve Waldren is Curator/Administrator of Trinity
College Botanic Gardens. His current research interests
include biogeography of the Irish and Polynesian floras,
the physiological ecology of turlough (seasonal lakes)
plants and plant conservation biology.
Una Bradley recently completed her PhD on biogeography and speciation of Peperomia in the islands of southeastern Polynesia.
Appendix List of the native vascular plants species for the Pitcairn group of islands, which are the species used in this analysis. The range
column relates to the range of the species within the Pitcairn group as follows: P, Pitcairn; H, Henderson; O, Oeno; D , Ducie
Family
Genus
Species
Authority
Range
Adiantaceae
Aizoaceae
Apiaceae
Apocynaceae
Apocynaceae
Apocynaceae
Araliaceae
Aspidiaceae
Aspidiaceae
Aspleniaceae
Aspleniaceae
Aspleniaceae
Aspleniaceae
Aspleniaceae
Aspleniaceae
Aspleniaceae
Asteraceae
Asteraceae
Asteraceae
Blechnaceae
Boraginaceae
Boraginaceae
Boraginaceae
Brassicaceae
Capparidaceae
Convolvulaceae
Convolvulaceae
Adiantum
Sesuvium
Apium
Alyxia
Alyxia
Cerbera
Meryta
Ctenitis
Diplazium
Arachniodes
Asplenium
Asplenium
Asplenium
Asplenium
Lastreopsis
Loxoscaphe
Bidens
Bidens
Senecio
Doodia
Argusia
Cordia
Heliotropium
Lepidium
Capparis
Ipomoea
Ipomoea
hispidulum
portulacastrum
prostratum
fosbergii
scandens
manghas
brachypoda
cumingii
harpeodes
aristata
nidus
obtusatum
polyodon
shuttleworthianum
pacifica
gibberosum
hendersonensis
mathewsii
stokesii
media
argentea
subcordata
anomalum
bidentatum
cordifolia
littoralis
macrantha
Sw.
(L.) L.
Labill.
Florence
Roem. aeiou Schult.
L.
Harms
Holttum
T.Moore
(G.Forst.) Tindale
L.
G.Forst.
G.Forst.
Kunze
Tindale
T.Moore
Sherff
Sherff
F.Br.
R.Br.
L. f.
Lam.
A.Gray
Montin
Lam.
Blume
Roem. aeiou Schult.
P
P, H
P
H,
P
P
H
P
P
P
P, H, O
P, H
H
P
P
P
H, O
P
H
P
P, H, O, D
H
H
P, H, O
P, H
P
P, H
2003 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Journal of Biogeography, 30, 1311–1328
Phytogeographical model for south-eastern Polynesia 1327
Appendix continued
Family
Genus
Species
Authority
Range
Convolvulaceae
Convolvulaceae
Cyatheaceae
Cyperaceae
Davalliaceae
Davalliaceae
Davalliaceae
Davalliaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Flacourtiaceae
Flacourtiaceae
Gleicheniaceae
Goodeniaceae
Gramineae
Haloragaceae
Hernandiaceae
Hernandiaceae
Hymenophyllaceae
Hymenophyllaceae
Lauraceae
Leguminosae
Leguminosae
Leguminosae
Liliaceae
Loganiaceae
Lycopodiaceae
Lythraceae
Malvaceae
Malvaceae
Malvaceae
Malvaceae
Marattiaceae
Menispermaceae
Myrsinaceae
Myrsinaceae
Myrtaceae
Myrtaceae
Nyctaginaceae
Nyctaginaceae
Nyctaginaceae
Oleaceae
Ophioglossaceae
Ophioglossaceae
Orchidaceae
Pandanaceae
Piperaceae
Piperaceae
Piperaceae
Piperaceae
Piperaceae
Pittosporaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Polypodiaceae
Polypodiaceae
Polypodiaceae
Polypodiaceae
Ipomoea
Operculina
Cyathea
Fimbristylis
Davallia
Nephrolepis
Nephrolepis
Nephrolepis
Chamaesyce
Glochidion
Glochidion
Homalium
Xylosma
Dicranopteris
Scaevola
Cenchrus
Haloragis
Hernandia
Hernandia
Trichomanes
Trichomanes
Cassytha
Caesalpinia
Canavalia
Senna
Dianella
Geniostoma
Lycopodium
Pemphis
Abutilon
Hibiscus
Hibiscus
Thespesia
Angiopteris
Cocculus
Myrsine
Myrsine
Eugenia
Metrosideros
Boerhavia
Pisonia
Pisonia
Jasminum
Ophioglossum
Ophioglossum
Taeniophyllum
Pandanus
Peperomia
Peperomia
Peperomia
Peperomia
Peperomia
Pittosporum
Lepturus
Thuarea
Phymatosorus
Phymatosorus
Phymatosorus
Pyrrosia
pes-caprae
turpethum
medullaris
cymosa
solida
biserrata
cordifolia
hirsutula
sparrmannii
comitum
pitcairnense
taypau
suaveolens
linearis
sericea
calyculatus
sp.
sonora
stokesii
endlicherianum
tahitense
filiformis
major
rosea
glanduligera
intermedia
hendersonense
cernuum
acidula
pitcairnense
australense
tiliaceus
populnea
chauliodonta
ferrandianus
hosakae
aff. niauensis
reinwardtiana
collina
tetrandra
grandis
umbellifera
didymum
nudicaule
reticulatum
fasciola
tectorius
blanda
hendersonensis
pitcairnensis
rapensis
sp.
aff. arborescens
repens
involuta
commutatus
powellii
scolopendria
serpens
L.
(L.) S. Manso
(G. Forst.) Sw.
Hillebrand
(G. Forst.) Sw.
(Sw.) Schott
(L.) C.Presl
(G. Forst.) C. Presl
(Boiss.) Hurus.
Florence
(F. Br.) H.St. John
H.St. John
(J.R. Forst. aeiou G. Forst.) G.Forst.
(Burm.) Underw.
Vahl
Cav.
Indet.
L.
(F.Br.) Kubitzki
C.Presl
Nadeaud
L.
(Medik.) Dandy aeiou Exell
(Sw.) DC.
(H.St. John) A.C.Sm.
Endl.
H.St.John
(L.) Pic.Serm.
J.R. Forst. aeiou G. Forst.
Fosberg
Fosberg
L.
(L.) Sol. ex Corrêa
Copel.
Gaudich
H.St. John
P
H
P
H
P, H
P, H,
P
P, H
P, H
P
P, H
P
P, H
P, H
P, H,
P
P
P
H
P
P
H, O
P, H
H
H
P, H
H,
P
P, H
P
P
P, H,
P, H,
P
P
H
P
P, H
P
H, O
H, O
P
P, H
P
P
P
P, H,
P
H,
P
P
P
H
P, H,
H
P
P
P, H,
P, H
2003 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Journal of Biogeography, 30, 1311–1328
(Blume) DC
(J.R. Forst. aeiou G. Forst.) A.Gray
G. Forst.
R.Br.
(J.R. Forst. aeiou G. Forst.) Seem.
G. Forst.
L.
L.
(G. Forst.) Rchb.
Parkinson ex Z
Kunth.
Yuncker
(Lauterb.) C.DC
F.Br.
Indet.
W. Rich ex A. Gray
(G. Forst.) R.Br.
(G. Forst.) R.Br. ex Roem. aeiou Schult.
(Blume) Pic.Serm.
(Baker) Pic.Serm.
(Burm.) Pic.Serm.
(G.Forst.) Ching
O, D
O
O
O
O
O, D
O
1328 N. Kingston et al.
Appendix continued
Family
Genus
Species
Authority
Range
Portulacaceae
Primulaceae
Psilotaceae
Rosaceae
Rubiaceae
Rubiaceae
Rubiaceae
Rubiaceae
Rubiaceae
Rubiaceae
Rubiaceae
Rubiaceae
Santalaceae
Sapindaceae
Sapotaceae
Solanaceae
Surianaceae
Thelypteridaceae
Thelypteridaceae
Thelypteridaceae
Tiliaceae
Ulmaceae
Urticaceae
Urticaceae
Verbenaceae
Viscaceae
Viscaceae
Vittariaceae
Portulaca
Samolus
Psilotum
Osteomeles
Coprosma
Cyclophyllum
Guettarda
Hedyotis
Ixora
Morinda
Psydrax
Timonius
Santalum
Allophylus
Nesoluma
Lycium
Suriana
Christella
Macrothelypteris
Pneumatopteris
Triumfetta
Celtis
Pilea
Procris
Premna
Korthalsella
Korthalsella
Vittaria
lutea
repens
nudum
anthyllidifolia
benefica
barbatum
speciosa
romanzoffiensis
fragrans
myrtifolia
odorata
polygamus
insulare
rhomboidalis
st-johnianum
sandwichense
maritima
parasitica
torresiana
costata
procumbens
pacifica
sancti-johannis
pedunculata
serratifolia
platycaula
rubescens
elongata
Sol. ex Seem.
Pers.
(L.) Beauv.
(Sm.) Lindl.
W.R.B.Oliver
(G.Forst.) N.Hallé aeiou Florence
L.
(Cham. aeiou Schlech.) Fosberg
(Hook. aeiou Arn.) A.Gray
A.Gray
(G.Forst.) A.C.Sm. aeiou S.P. Darwin
(G.Forst.) Robinson
Skottsberg
(Nadeaud) Radlkofer
Lam. aeiou Meeuse
A.Gray
L.
(L.) Lév.
(Gaudich) Ching.
Holttum
G.Forst.
G.Planch.
Florence
(G.Forst.) Wedd.
L.
(Tieghem) Engler
(Tieghem) Lecomte
Sw.
P, H
P
P, H
P
P
P, H
P, H
H, O
H
P, H
P, H
H
H
H
H
P, H
H, O
P
P
P
H, O
P, H
P
H
H
H
H
P
2003 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Journal of Biogeography, 30, 1311–1328