ATOLL RESEARCH BULLETIN NO. 188
ANEGADA ISLAND : VEGETATION AND FLORA by W. G. D'Arcy
I s s u e d by
THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION Washington, D . C . , U.S.A.
August 6, 1975
FIG.1 A N E G A D A
ANEGADA ISLAND : VEGETATION AND FLORA
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Anegada i s a low, f l a t l i m e s t o n e i s l a n d i s o l a t e d from o t h e r l a n d masses by p r e v a i l i n g wind d i r e c t i o n and ocean c u r r e n t s , and a l t h o u g h s e v e r a l nearby mountainous V i r g i n I s l a n d s a r e i n view on t h e horizon, t h e 13 m i l e n e a r e s t d i s t a n c e i s magnified i n s o f a r a s
~ o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r i n t e r c h a n g e of b i o t a i s concerned, The i s l a n d i s s i t u a t e d a t t h e n o r t h e a s t t a n g e n t of t h e A n t i l l e a n a r c . It i s about t e n m i l e s long and two m i l e s wide w i t h some l a r g e s a l t ponds, and i t i s populated by a c l u s t e r of West I n d i a n f a m i l i e s a t The S e t t l e m e n t and, s c a t t e r e d around t h e i s l a n d , a few r e c e n t l y a r r i v e d f a m i l i e s from abroad ( s e e map, Fig. 1.). I n s p i t e of t h e p r e s e n t s m a l l population, d i s t u r b a n c e of t h e v e g e t a t i o n i s of l o n g s t a n d i n g and f o r much of t h e i s l a n d , of a high order. The i n t r o d u c t i o n of modern c o n s t r u c t i o n equipment i n t h e p a s t t h r e e y e a r s i s a l r e a d y having an e f f e c t on t h e landscape, While t h e f l o r a i s mainly
d e r i v e d from t h a t of d r y s e c t i o n s of P u e r t o Rico and t h e v e g e t a t i o n s t r u c t u r e i s rnuch l i k e t h a t of Barbuda and Anguilla, t h e r e a r e i n t e r e s t i n g d i f f e r e n c e s .
The i s l a n d h a s drawn t h e a t t e n t i o n of s e v e r a l workers i n t h e p a s t , and r e c e n t l y I p u b l i s h e d an account w i t h a b r i e f c h e c k l i s t of t h e f l o r a and sunmary of p r e v i o u s work (D' Arcy 1971). New f i e l d work h a s i n c r e a s e d knowledge about t h e i s l a n d and t h i s i s p r e s e n t e d h e r e : an a n n o t a t e d c h e c k l i s t of t h e f l o r a and a d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e v e g e t a t i o n . An assessment i s made of t h e e f f e c t s of fnan on t h e f l o r a
and landscape. General i n f o r m a t i o n on t h e i s l a n d i s t o be found i n p a p e r s by Schomburgk (1832), B r i t t o n (1916) and Beard (1942).
B r i t t o n & Wilson (1923, 1925) gave a f l o r i s t i c account based on t h e c o l l e c t i ~ n s of N. L. B r i t t o n and W. C, Fishlock, t h e 2 Curator of t h e
B o t a n i c a l S t a t i o n , Road Town, and Beard i n h i s account l i s t e d im- p o r t a n t p l a n t s and d i s c u s s e d t h e v e g e t a t i o n . A r e c e n t s t u d y of t h e b i r d s was published by L a B a s t i l l e and Richmond (1973).
C o n t r i b u t i o n h b e r 5 from F a i r l e i g h Dickinson U n i v e r s i t y West I n d i e s Laboratory, S t . Croix, U.S.V. I.
P r e s e n t a d d r e s s : Plissauri B o t a n i c a l Garden, 2315 Tower Grove Avenue, S t . Louis, Missouri 63110.
(?!anuscript r e c e i v e d January, 1973--Eds ).
GEOGRAPHY P h y s i c a l F e a t u r e s
Anegada i s s i t u a t e d a t 18'43
'
N and 64°19t15 (The S e t t l e m e n t ) . It i s t e n m i l e s l o n g and 2-114 m i l e s wide a t i t s widest n o i n t w i t h a s u r f a c e a r e a of 14.987 s q u a r e m i l e s (Rlumb & Robbins 1960) o r about 33 s q u a r e km. The a x i s r u n s west by n o r t h and e a s t by s o u t h and t h e o v e r a l l shape i s t h a t of a crescent--concave t o t h e A n t i l l e a n a r c , The g r e a t e s t e l e v a t i o n i s about 1 5 f e e t (ca 4.5 m).R e l i a b l e r a i n f a l l d a t a a r e wanting, b u t t h e amount i s p r o b a b l y s i m i l a r t o t h a t of Anguilla o r Barbuda, s i m i l a r f l a t i s l a n d s a t t h e e a s t of t h e Caribbean Sea. H a r r i s (1965) g i v e s a mean of 39 i n c h e s f o r Barbuda and 45 i n c h e s f o r A n g u i l l a . I n t h i s r e g i o n , t h e months from J a n u a r y t o A p r i l a r e u s u a l l y d r y and August t o \Tovernber a r e wet but t h e r e i s g r e a t i r r e g u l a r i t y i n t h e s e a s o n a l p a t t e r n . Even a t p o i n t s w i t h comparatively h i g h r a i n f a l l t h e r e may be p e r i o d s of s e v e r a l months without s i g n i f i c a n t r a i n f a l l ( s e e D'Arcy 1967).
Although Anegada i s q u i t e s m a l l and f l a t , F r a n c i s (1953) r e p o r t e d t h a t " t h e i s l a n d cumulous cloud t h a t appeared each day reproduced remarkably t h e somewhat banana-shaped o u t l i n e of t h e i s l a n d . " Be- c a u s e of t h e n e a r l y continuous t r a d e winds, t h i s cloud probably d r o p s l i t t l e w a t e r on t h e i s l a n d i t s e l f but may l e a d t o p r e c i p i t a t i o n i n t h e s e a t o t h e west. Although t h e n o r t h c o a s t e n j o y s a vigousous f a n n i n g from t h e t r a d e winds, wind a c t i o n i n l a n d i s v a r i a b l e a t ground l e v e l , some days b e i n g calm o v e r much of the i s l a n d and o t h e r days breezy. The b r e e z e may be s a l t - l a d e n a t any p o i n t on t h e i s l a n d .
Hurricanes s t r i k e t h e i s l a n d i n f r e q u e n t l y but w i t h c o n s i d e r a b l e v i o l e n c e . Hurricane Donna of 1960 removed many of t h e houses i n The S e t t l e m e n t from t h e i r f o u n d a t i o n s , and t h e r e was heavy r a i n f a l l . Schomburgk r e p o r t e d t h a t a h u r r i c a n e had occurred i n 1519 which
c l o s e d waterways and a p p a r e n t l y reduced t h e mosquito p o p u l a t i o n t o an i n s i g n i f i c a n t l e v e l .
During t h e w i n t e r months, a 'ground s e a ' corning from t h e n o r t h makes s a i l i n g rough and i n c r e a s e s wave a c t i o n on exposed n o r t h s h o r e s throughout t h e V i r g i n I s l a n d s . The d i f f e r e n c e i n day l e n g t h i s about two h o u r s between t h e w i n t e r and summer s o l s t i c e s , Temperature d a t a a r e n o t a v a i l a b l e f o r t h e i s l a n d kt a t Cruz Bay, S t . John, s a n e 35 m i l e s t o t h e southwest, t h e summer and w i n t e r maxima a r e 95 and 88 0 F r e s p e c t i v e l y and t h e summer and w i n t e r minima 67 and 59 t i v e l y . The monthly mean t e m p e r a t u r e s r a n g e from 76.7 t o 92.3 0 F r e s ec-
F
5'.Both Beard and F r a n c i s r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e daytime h e a t on t h e l i m e s t o n e p l a i n was i n t o l e r a b l e and I sometimes found t h e l i m e s t o n e pavement u n p l e a s a n t l y h o t t o touch. Temperature must impose a r i g o u r o ~ l s
s e l e c t i o n on t h e f l o r a t h a t c a n c o l o n i s e t h e rock pavenent and i s a f a c t o r i n m a i n t a i n i n g g e n e r a l l y x e r i c c o n d i t i o n s on t h e i s l a n d , even i n t i m e s of good r a i n f a l l .
Extending out t o s e a a l o n g t h e s o u t h c o a s t and s o u t h e a s t i n t o t h e Anegada Passage i s t h e Horseshoe Reef, one of t h e world's most
fearsome s a i l i n g h a z a r d s , v y i n e w i t h t h e r ~ o f f Anguilla and t h e s h o a l s " ~ o f f Cape S a b l e i n t h e Yorth A t l a n t i c i n nunbers of s h i p s and l i v e s l o s t . In t h e days of sai'linp, t r a n s p o r t when t h e Anegada Passage was a main r o u t e from Europe t o t h e ?Yew World, t h i s r e e f took a heavy t o l l a.nd wreck-
i n g o r s p o i l i n g was an iniportant employment f o r r e s i d e n t s of Anegada. 'Che r e e f e x t e n d s e i g h t m i l e s from East End ant1 i s f i v e m i l e s wide w i t h s c a t - t e r e d c o r a l hea,ds over most of i t s s u r f a c e . Calcareous r e e f d e b r i s moves westward w i t h t h e A n t i l l e a n Stream which p a s s e s a l o n g t h e n o r t h c o a s t and
i t s narrow f r i n g i n g r e e f . Sand i s washed. up on Anegada's n o r t h s h o r e where i t b u i l d s a dune of about 1 5 f e e t , The w e s t e r n t h i r d of t h e i s i a n d con- s i s t s of a sandy p l a i n b u i l t up of sand. blown %rom t h e n o r t h c o a s t dunes, probably much of i t a c r o s s t h e l i m e s t o n e pavement which for!ns t h e e a s t e r n p o r t i o n of t h e i s l a n d . Some of t h i s sand r e e n t e r s t h e sea a l o n g t h e
s o u t h c o a s t where t h e dune i s low o r a b s e n t , and a c o u n t e r , c u r r e n t r e t u r n s some of it eastward a g a i n toward t h e main r e e f . To t h e west of t h e
i s l a n d ' s northernmost p o i n t i s a r i d g e of sand on t h e s e a f l o o r e x t e n d i n g t o J o s t Van Dykes soine 25 m i l e s f u r t h e r west.
S a l t ponds cover a s u b s t a n t i a l y o r t i o n of t h e Anegada l a n d a r e a . I n t h e west, Flamingo Pond i s t h e l a r g e s t s t r e t c h of w a t e r , Surroullded on a l l s i d e s by p o r t i o n s of t h e sandy n l a i n , t h e w e s t e r n ponds have a narrow c o n n e c t i o ~ l w i t h t h e s e a a l o n e t h e s o u t h c o a s t , and Scl~omburek men- t i o n e d a c o n n e c t i o n along, t h e n o r t h c o a s t which was blocked by t h e h u r r i - cane of 1519, There i.s probably c o n s i d e r a b l e v a r i a t i o n i n t h e s i z e of t h i s pond depending on r a i n and wind c o n d i t i o n s , but i t i s not aDnarent why d r i f t i m ?c;ar?d has not f i l l e d n o s t o r a i l of i t i n t h e c e n t u r y and a h a l f s i n c e Schomburgk's v i s i t . Cn S c h m b u r g k ' s map t h e pond does , n o t extend a s f a r west a s Pomato P o i n t hut now i t e x t e n d s w e l l beyond t h i s
~ o i n t . To t h e e a s t , t h e l a r g e pond k ~ o w n a s S a l t Pond r e s t s i n a lime- s t o n e s a u c e r w i t h exposed pavement s l o p i n g g e n t l y a t t h e s i d e s , S a l t Pond h a s a narrow connection w i t h t h e s e a a t t h e s o u t h s i d e , and a f i s h weir. i n t h e Channel s u g g e s t s sane e n g i n e e r i n g by s a n e This pond now ex- t e n d s a i n o s t a m i l e f u r t h e r e a s t on i t s s o u t h e r n arm a s compared w i t h Sc:lornburgkt s map, but t h e n o r t h e r n arm i s som.ewhat c o n t r a c t e d .
?he e a s t e r n two t h i r d s of t h e i s l a n d c o n s i s t s of a l i m e s t o n e p l a i n w i t h h e r e atld t h e r e a shallow cover oE sand, Sut ;lluch of t h e a r e a i s a naked lirnestorle pavemfJnt. A t t:?:? ~.!e,i t e r r , end o-F t h i s p1ai.r: -:there i s soiae e x F 0 1 i a t i n g of t h e lilne3irone i n t z l e s . P u d d l e s a n i n c h o r two deep l i e i n s o i u t i o r i r e c e s s e s of t h e pavement aT'ier a r a i n , and a l o n g t h e n o r t h e r n edge of t h e lii~iiestone p l a i n a r e a f e w s o l u t i o r i s i n k - h o l e s o r s l o b s 8-10 . f e e t deep d l i c h u s u a l l y c o n t a i n Fresh water. ! ? w e n t quarry- I-15 t o a d e p t h of 20-30 feet. a* t h e w e s t e r n eild of t h e p l a i n uncovered o n l y a homogeneous a p p e a r i n s unbroken mass of creamy w h i t e l i ~ e s t o n e . D r . Earold L. Levin examiried hand samples from t h e q u a r r y and found t h e m a t e r i a l t o o compacted and dezraded t o y i e l d much i n f o r m a t i o n , but h e was a b l e t o s t a t e : "The rock i s a b i o c l a s t i c p a r t i a l l y r e c r y s t a l l i z e d limestoize c o ~ l t a i n i n g t h e f o r a a ~ i n i f e r Archaias which r a n g e s i n a g e from Eocene t o t h e Becent and has been r e c o r d e d from Bermuda and Barbados."
7.
The i - i e l l ixa~ncfs a t East ARC! a r e gond evicience o f t h e p r e s e n c e o f pre-"curopean men. Ct?ve?:iny, h a l f a n a c r e a n d r i s i n g a b o u t 1 5 f e e t , t h e o l d e r r ~ ~ ~ l i n c r ! ~ a r c . :->cx.J coT~er.er! w i t h a woodland o f 1ignu;r v i t a e (.Caaiacum), satinwooti (??n:::1oxyJ-u;2) arid other. s p e c i e s , 2 n d o n e must s c r a t c h t h e s u r - f a c e t o s e e t : ~ a t - t h e r?ounds a r e , i.:n f a c t , made o f conch. A few y a r d s f u r t 5 e r inl-aii.~l ( t o t h e west-.) a r e s e v e r a l s l a t e - b l u e lilounds o f n o r e r e c e n t d a t e lackiilcq v e c e t a t i o r ? a l t o g e t h e r . T h e s e r i s e a b o u t e i g h t f e i . t a b o v e t i l e l i r n e s t n e ~ y v m e n t . 'The i l ~ o ~ i n d s h a v e keen b u i l t u p p a r a l l e l t o t h e s o u t h s h o r e < a c i n g r e d n a n g r o v e s a c r o s s a c h a n n e l j u s t wide and d e e p enoueil t o a c c e p t one o r two c a n o e s . The I n d i a n s e v i d e n t l y t o o k tlieir c o ~ ? c h i n t l i e ?~ear:;y r e d and came t o t h i . s p o i n t , t h e d ~ o s e s c la n d f a l l . , t o c l e a n t h e c a t c h and p e r ' n a ~ s tiry i t on t h e n e a r b y s t o n e pavement. The p o i n t i s ~ , ? e i 2 s h e l t e r e d fraii: t h e sea and wood was a.vail;l%l.e f o r f i r e s o r othel- d o r o e s t i c p u r F o s e s . Schoo.iburgk 3 e n t i o n e d some of t h e mounds b e i n g p u l l e d down f o r n a k i n g I ~ ~ . ~ i l d i n g l i m e and t h e r e c e n t mounds were p r o b a b l y made Sy Z~!ropean o r A f r i c a n s e t t l e r s , b u t a good i l l d i c a t i o n ojc y e - European conch harvestS.ng is s t i l l i n t a c t ,
I n t h e y e q r 9 between t h e f i r s t European s e t t l e m e n t and t h e p a s t d e c a d e , ?an h a s aFEectec4 t h e l a n d s c a p e q a i n l y t h r o u g h b u r n i n g and c u t t i n g t h e woods and through t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f h i s g r a z i n g a n i m a l s . The m a i n s i t e o f h a b i t a t i o n was :)robably a l w a y s The S e t t l e m e n t and t h i s a r e a has had t : g r e a t e s t d i a t u r h a i ~ c e . A t o t h e r p o i n t s t h e r e a r e some s i g n s ~ of forl?el- p r e s e n c e o f man, e . g . , a s t r a i g h t row of t a l l c o c o n u t t r e e s on t h e s 9 n d y n l a i n ; l o r t h w e s t of F l ; l r ~ i n g o Fond well away from t h e s e a , b u t s u c h i ~ d i c a t i o 7 1 s a r e f e ~ . U n t i l r e c e n t l y there were n e i t h e r d r a u g h t a n i n a l s n o r v e h i c l e s a,?d h e n c e no r o a d s , and t h e r e w e r e no paved w a l k s .
;:ell worn o a t h s extendell t o v a r i o u s p a r t s o f t h e i s l a n d and t h e S a l t Pond i s b r i d g e d i n v a r i o u s p l a c e s tsy s t e n p i n g s t o n e s . One i n t e r e s t i n g f e a t u r e which, i f s o t nar! ii~?:le, i c i ;it l e a s t man u s e d , i s "'L'he Creek," a rnuddy pond of a l x o s t p e r f e c t r a c t a r t s i l l a r s h a p e a b o u t 20 C e e t on a s i d e which h a r b o r s repugna!lt c1.ouds of e r e e n i s h scum and t r ~ o s p e c i e s o f E l e o c h a r i s n o t f o u n d e l s e w h e r e on t!le i s l a n d . T h i s pond, milch u s e d t o w a t e r c a t t l e , i s a b o u t a mi.le e a s t of The S e t t l e m e n t . It mav be t h e s a n e pond w h e r e F i s h l o c k E o ~ ~ n d r a n i c u m geminatun i n October, 131E, A 2 i v p o r t a n t f e a t u r e of t h e Anecadr, l a n d s c a p e i s t h e s t o n e fencinpi which d i v i d e s t h e 1.imestone p l a i n i n t o a ~e"Lct!luiil of f i e l d s o f :me t o n a n y a c r e s i n s i z e . The f e n c e s a r e o f l i i - n e s t n n e ti.2.e~ o r s m a l l b l o d i s and a r e n o s t l y a b o u t t h r e e f e e t h i g h . I!ntil r e c e n t l y a l l la11d on Anegada was owned i n common and i t was iroportailt f o r t h e fr;rmer t o k e e p u p h i s 5 e n c e s i n o r d e r t o m a i . n t a i n h i s c l a i m t o t h e p l o t s h e u s e d . i J i t h economic c h a n g e s o f t h e p a s t few y e a r s , f e n c e s a r e no l o i l g e r i l a i n t a i n e d and a n i l n a l s roam t h e i s l a n d a t l a r g e .
I n t h e I'.'i~.,,s a. j n i s s i l e t r a c k i n g s t a t i o n was e s t a b l i s h e d a t t h e e x t r e r i e west end o f t h e i s l a n d . a n 6 a n a i r s t r i p w a s p r e p a r e d ilearby, Zoth f a c i l i t i e s a r e i10w abanr1ni1c.d; t h e a i r s t r i p i s n a r t l y e r a s e d and t h e t a x - p o r a r y b u i l d i ? ; ~ ~ c r f +Re s t a t i o n a r e i n decay. ti\ r e c e n t p u r c h a s e r may p u t c h i s i i ~ ~ t e r i a l and t h e n e a r b y l a n d back i n t o u s e .
I.atr? in t h e 1.960's a n e n t e r p r i s e from London, Sngland, c o i ~ t r a c t e d w i t h t h e l o c a l g c v e r n v e n t f o r a l a r z e p o r t i o n o f Anegadz t o c o n s t r u c t a
system o f h o t e l s and a r e t i r e m e n t colony. Z a r l y i n 1971, t h i s e n t e r p r i s e r a n i n t o p o l i t i c a l and a p p a r e n t l y a l s o f i n a n c i a l d t P f i c u l t i e s and with- drew fro:n t h e c o i ~ r ~ y , D u r i n ~ t h e c o u r s e of t h e p r o j e c t , s e v e r a l p h y s i c a l iiserns o f t h e scheme were i n i . t i a t e d o r c o q p l e t e d and t h e s e a r e s i ~ n i f i c a n t -Tor t h e s t u d y o-f tile i s l a n d . %e rrta? (Fig, 1) i n d i c a t e s t h e i r a p ~ o x i m a t e p o s i t i o n s .
--A house s j . t e ( S c t u a l l y a house t r a i l e r ) was s i t u a t e d a t Pomato Poine.
- - F ~ s x e r occu2arrts of S e t t i n g Foi11.t: !.rere e v i c t e d and a s m a l l beach- s i d e h o t e l was b u i l t . Adjacent t o t h i s a j e t t y was b u i l t and s e v e r a l l a r g e n e t a l i x i i l d i n g s were e r e c t e d t o I-~ouse equipment and a shopping f a c i l i t y . Tho S e t t i n g Point clea7:ilzg i n v o l v e d s e v e r a l a c r e s .
--Inland Erosc? i.:indl?.s Rizht on t h e norxh s i d e of t h e i s l a n d a l a r g e e l e c t r i c power p l . r l t w a s c o z p l e t o d but never p1-1t i n t o o p e r a t i o n . --At t h e wester71 end of t h e l i m e s t o n e p l a i n a new a i r s t r i p was p r e p a r e d
and t h i s j-s i i ; c u r r e n t r ~ s e .
--:.:ear lbtmeg P o i n t a s t a f f housing p r o j e c t of about a dozen houses of g r e e n h a r t wood from fayana was e r e c t e d and s e v e r a l houses were occugied by st;l..Ff.
--Roads were c u t a:?d graded betveen The Settlerilent and Pomato Foint and t o t h e power p l a n t on t h e n o r t h . I n a d d i t i o n , tnotorable t r a c k s were extended t o west end, t o 1;oblolIy Point: and araund Flamingo Pond on t h e n o r t h ,
--A q u a r r y sonle 50 Eeet on a s i d e and 2 5 f e e t d e e p was dug n e a r t h e a i r p o r c ,
--For !:rori: on t h e p r o j e c t s , a number of workrnea were imported from t h e Unite? Kingdom and t h e s e people, sorne w i t h f a m i l i e s , camped i n t e n t s o r shacks i n t h e western p a r t of t h e i s l a n d . 3y mid 1971, a l l hacl d e p a r t e d .
The p r o j e c t s b u i l t a t t h i s time opened new a r e a s f o r p l a n t s asso- c i a t e d w i t h d i s t u r b a n c e , w h i l e t h e h a b i t a t s of s e v e r a l farrns were e l i m i n a t e d o r d r a s t i c a l l y a l t e r e d , Weeds s e e n on t h e Soares farm ' a t Settj:ng P o i n t i n 1970 had rnoved w i t h t h e f a m i l y t o t h e new farrn s i t e west a l o n g t h e s o u t h c o a s t when t h e S e t t i n g P o i n t farm was abandoned i n 1971. The a i r p o r t s i t e took over farms r\rhich r e s i d e n t s s a y had been a c t i v e a t t h a t t i n e , and i t i s d i f f i c u l t t o s a y whether t h e weeds now a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e a i r p o r t were n e ~ ~ l y i n t r o d u c e d o r a r e h o l d o v e r s from t h e former f a r m i n g a c t i v i t y .
Tne a c t i v i t i e s i n t h e w e s t e r n p a r t of t h e i s l a n d meant new economic p u r s u i t s f o r t h e r e s i d e n t s of The S e t t l e x e i ~ t , Fences f o r c a t t l e h o l d i n g and b o a t s f o r -Fishing were l e t decay and many new c o n c r e t e block houses a r o s e i n The S e t t l a % e n t . The main s t r e e t was paved f o r most of i t s d i s t a n c e and. a new w a t e r catchmen$ was i n l i l t n e a r t h e school. S e v e r a l r e s i d e n t s a c q u i r e d raotor v e h i c l e s . There a r e now t h r e e o r f o u r s m a l l shops i n s t e a d of one.
A t t h e c l o s e of t h e h o t e l and r e s i d e n t i a l colony s c h e i e , t h e governilent took o v e r t h e p h y s i c a l r e s o u r c e s olr t h e Lond-on d e v e l o p e r s and has not y e t found a f i r m b a s i s f o r c o n t i n u i n e t h e scheme. Ey midyear 1971 t h e o n l y peoyle l i v i n g o u t s i d e The Sett1e:rlent were t h o s e a t t h e S o a r e s homestead between S e t t i n g P o i n t and Pomato P o i n t and one o r two
c a r e t a k e r s f o r t h e S e t t i n g P o i n t h o t e l complex. IIowever, t h e p r e s e n t i s o n l y a l u l l i n t h e i n e v i t a b l e march towards modern develoyment of t h e i s l a n d : Tillether t h e developnlent rneans t o u r i s t s , r e s i d e n t s , o r i n d u s t r y , i t i s c e r t a i n t h a t t h e r e c e n t c o n s t r u c t i o n i s but a token of what i s t o cone. The s u r f a c e of t h e i s l a n d w i l l be s u b s t a n t i a l l y m o d i f i e d i n t h e n o t t o o d i s t a n t f u t u r e . h e d r a s t i c p r o p o s a l i s f o r t h e United S t a t e s Navy t o u s e t h e i s l a n d a s a n a v a l gunnery t a r g e t i n r e p l a c e i ~ e n t fo r t h e Culebra Range ( P u e r t o Rico) where i n h a b i t a n t s have o b j e c t e d t o t h e ~ r o x i - m i t y of t h e p r e s e n t n a v a l r a n g e (:an Juan S t a r , 2 3 February, 1972).
Ferhaps t h e Government of t h e V i r g i n Is'lalzds w i l l be a b l e t o s e t a s i d e some of t h e i s l a n d ' s most i n t e r e s t i n g l o c a l i t i e s f o r p r e s e r v a t i o n . Tne s h e l l mounds a t East End and t h e palm c o ~ u ~ u n i t i e s i n t h e west (3'Arcy 1 9 7 l b ) would be w e l l rArorth s a v i n g .
The v e e e t a t i o n of Anega.da a c c o r d s w e l l w i t h v h a t Eeard (1944) re- f e r r e d t o a s "2ver.green i>ushland" and i t c o r r e s p o n d s c1osel.y with t h a t v e g e t a t i o n t y p e a s i t o c c u r s on Carbuda. The s u b s t r a t a and o t h e r con- G i t i o n s a r e s i m i l a r and have l e d t o accumulation of a s i ~ n i l a r f l o r a w i t h a l i k e physiognomy. P'notos shov~n by Beard, S t o f f e r s (1957) an6 ihrris
(1965) S e a r t h i s o u t . A n import:arlt d i f f e r e n c e i s i n t h e d e g r e e t o which i n t r o d u c e d s p e c i e s have m o d i f i e d t h e o r i s i n a l v e g e t a t i o n , Arborescent s p e c i e s i n t r o d u c e d i n t o t h e Leeward I s l a n d s which have become i ~ n ~ ) o r t a n t i n t h e v e g e t a t i o n such a s logwood (Iiaer!~atoxyI~?n c a m p e c ~ z i z r ~ ~ l ~ ~ ) , a c a c i a
( A c a c i a f a r n e s i a n a ,
&.
macranf:i~a, e t c . ) , mesquite (Prosoi3'Is j u l i f l o r a ) , and s p e c i e s o.f C i t r u s , Eucalyptus o r Ananas do n o l cccilr i n t h e w i l d i f a t a l l on ~ n e ~ a d a . a r a a r i n d ~ l s l n d i c a i s t h e s o l e a l i e n t r e e s e e n and t h i s o c c u r s o n l y i n l i r n i t e d nurnbers a t tile w e s t e r n s i d e of t h e a i r p o r t , 3eard s p e c i f i c a l l y mentioned t h e Anegada s i t u a t i o n a s a "degraded bushland,"and it c e r t a i n l y i s t h a t , b o t h i n terms or' t o t a l f l o r i s t i c corr~position and i n s t r u c t u r e . 30th 3eard and Y a r r i s assumed t h a t R a n ailct h i s animals a r e almost e n t i r e l y r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h i s ' s o r t of s i t u a t i o i ? , but t h i s i s l e s s s o or1 p a r t s of Aneeada than, i n t h e a r e a s t h e s e workers d e s c r i b e d . Anegada's v e e e t a t i o n nay be consj-dered under f o u r heads: t h e s h o r e l i n e s , t h e sandy p l a i n , t h e l i m e s t o n e p l a i n , and t h e v e g e t a t i o n n e a r man, Other writers have n o t d i s t i n g u i s h e d between t h e f i r s t t1.70 of t h e s e v e g e t a t i o n u n i t s but oj? Ane~a-da t h e r e a r e aziple d i f f e r e n c e s , The v e g e t a t i o n under human i n f l u e n c e i s c o n s i d e r e d below under t h e e d a p h i c c a t e g o r i . e s ,
The S h o r e l i n e s
The e n t i r e n o r t h s e a c o a s c i s a h i g h dune m o s t l y surmounted by a l i t t o r a l hedge of S u r i a n a maritima, T o u r n e f o r t i a cnanhalodes and
Coccoloba u v i f e r a . This a s s o c i a t i o n a l s o o c c u r s on t h e s o u t h c o a s t west or" S a l t h e a p P o i n t , a l t h o u g h t h e r e i s almost no dune and t h e s h r u b s a r e seldom d e n s e enough t o be c o n s i d e r e d a hedge. Occasional p l a n t s of Cerlchrus e c h i n a t u s , L e ~ t o c h l o l j p s i s v i r g a t a , Snorobofus v i r a i n i c u g , Cyperus e l e g a n s , S e s u v i m ~ o r t u l a c a s t r u i n and Scaevola u l w n i e r i a l s o form p a r t of t h i s s e a c o a s t group, C s k i l e l a n c e o l a t a , Canavalia r n a r i t i n a and Ipomoea pes-caprae a r e q u i t e uncomnon and may, i n f a c t , . o c c u r a s f r e q u e n t a d v e n t i v e s r a t h e r thali a s n a t u r a l components of t h e F l o r a . The s h o r e s of Flamingo Pond and t h e o t h e r s a l t ponds i n t h e west a r e l i n e d
with t h i c k e t s o r s o l i t a r y p l a n t s OF Conocarpus e r e c t a , Coccoloba u v i f e r a , I,ap,uncularia racemosa and B o r r i c h i a a r b o r e s c e n s , n o s t l y not more t h a n 3 rn t a l l and i n t h e west o n l y 1 m t a l l . I n p a t c h e s s t a r t i n g n e a r Yutmeg Point and hecoming a s o l i d mass e a s t of The S e t t l e m e n t , r e d mansroves (Rhizophora mangle) border t h e s o u t h c o a s t , a p p a r e n t l y w i t i ~ o u t e p i p h y t e s o r a s s o c i a t e s , S a l t Pond i n t h e e a s t i s surrounded by l a r g e a r e a s of S a t i s n n r i t i n a . , Sueda l i n e a r i s , P k i l o x e r u s v e r m i c u l a r i s and S a l i c o r n i a n e r e n n i s , Along t h e sor~t1-1 s h o r e of t h e pond a r e abundant clumps of S a l i c o r n i a b i g e l o v i i , Above t h e l e v e l of t h e s e c;iminutive succul.ents, t h e f l o r a of t h e liinestone p l a i n begins. -. Behind t h e n o r t h c o a s t dunes t h e r e i s o f t e n a t r a n s i t i o n a r e a where t h e f l a t l i m e s t o n e i s covered h e r e and t h e r e w i t h sand from t h e dune, I n t h i s s t r i p occur Wagus b e r t e r o n i a n u s , Cyperus c u s p i d a t u s , Ximenia americana, S t y l o s a n t h e s hamata, ' h r n e r a
--
d i f f u s a , Evolvulus b r a c e i , 3 o r r e r i a v e r t i c e l l a t a and Z s l i o t r o ~ i u m micronhvllum. These a r e a l l s o e c i e s of x e r o n o r n h i c annear-.
Lance and a l l except bhe Xi;nenia a r e d i m i n u t i v e . "lot r e a l l y formin? a v e g e t a t i o n u n i t , t h e s e p l a n t s may r e p r e s e n t an i n t e r d u n e f l o r a between t h e l i t t o r a l hedge and t h e i n t e r i o r woodland,
The Sandy P l a i n
Tne p l a n t community on t h e sandy p l a i n c o ~ n p r i s e s almost a dozen f r e q u e n t l y founci s p e c i e s of s h r u b s , h a l f a dozen s p e c i e s of -?orbs, e?i- phytes o r l i a n a s and a dozen o r s o o t h e r s p e c i e s o c c u r r i n g i n srnall nuxbers o r o n l y l o c a l l y . The dominants a r e plentif1.11 throughout t h e p l a i n and r a n g e from 2 t o 3 m i n h e i g h t , someti!nes dense, but o f t e n w i t h s p a c e s wide enough f o r a man t o walk throuuh, The gro?,rtl~ i s iilostlp e r e c t and f l o w e r i n g i s i n t h e "canopy" o r n e a r i t . Spines a r e a b s e n t except f o r t h e s h a r p l e a f t i p s of Ernodia l i t t o r a l i s . The dominant sllrubs a r e :
Chamaesyce a r t i c u l a t a ,Croton 8 i . s c o l o r
Cassine xylocarpa Crossc;; tal!lm rimconla
3 e c q u i n i a a r b o r u a Z,?ntan.r. l n v o l u c r a t a Z r i t h a l i e fruticosa
Growing on t h e s e s h r u b s a s 1 i . a ~ ~ ~ o r e p i p h y t e s a r e : E n c y c l i a b i f i d a
Tetramicra e l e g a n s Cassytha f i i i f o r n i s
':early atggroui-~d le v e l , Ernodea l i t t o r a l i s , P o l y c a l a h e t a c a n t h a , 'I.'imbrlsr:ylis s p a d i c e a ard StrumpTia n a r i t i m a a r e v e r y f r e q u e n t , t h e Strumpfia o f t e n a t t a i n i n g a meter i n !?ei.ght and b r e a d t h , :\'early two dozen ot.her s p e c i e s o c c u r on t h e sandy p l a i n , some of the^ such a s
? o r r i c h i , ? a r b o r e s c e n s and I!eptochloUps i s vi.rgat a wandering ont o t h e p1ai.n from nearby s h o r e l i n e h a b i t a t s . Trees a r e r a r e but a few S a b a l causiarum palms a r e conspicuous, a s m a l l , l e a t h e r y l e a v e d form of Tabebuia pa11icla o c c u r s i n s m a l l copses, s c a t t e r e d t r e e s of P i s o n i a s u b c o r d a t a , Coccoloba k r u g i i and Eu~nelia obovata a r e p r e s e n t , and o c c a s i o n a l p l a n t s of U r e c h i t e s l u t e a p r o v i d e s p l a s h e s o-F color. I n a
s e a l e - l i k e d e p r e s s i o n n e a r t h e n o r t h w e s t c o r n e r of t h e i s l a n d i s a f l o u r i - s h i n g c o l o n y of t h e dwarf palin, T h r i n a x r n o r r i s i i , neneath palms and t h e
-.
r l s o c i a t r e e s specirne~zs of L a s i a c i s d i v a r i c a t a , Gymnanthes l u c i d a , P ; r s s i f l o r a s u i ) e r o s a end C a n e l l a w i n t e r i a n a hover t e n a c i o u s l y a t t h e t h r e s h h o l d of s u r v i v a l .3 i s t u r b e d a r e a s on t h e s a n d y p l a i n have a s p e c i a l f l o r a n o t found e l . s e u h e r e on t h e i s l a n d , a l l s m a l l , weedy s p e c i e s . The f o l l o w i n g o c c u r on t i l e a i r s t r i p , t h e house s i t e s , o r farm a r e a s of t h e sandy p l a i n :
C h l o r i s p e t r a e a
Chamaesvce b 1 o d ~ e t L i . i C, n r o s t r a t a
-
2. s e r p e n s-
C, t o r r a l b a s i i-
P h y l l a n t h u s amarus 2. c a r i b a e u s
P o r t u l a c a o l e r a c e a
Cnfy F o r t u l a c a o l e r a c e a of t h i s l i s t h a s been found e l s e w h e r e on Anegada,
.a Fiost o? t h e p l a n t s composing The n a t u r a l v e g e t a t i o n of t h e s a n d y p l a i n o c c u r a l s o on t h e l i m e s t o n e t o t h e e a s t , some of them p l e n t i f u l l y , Except f o r t h e e n d e n i c Cyanchum, t h e specj-es a r e rnostly widespread i n t h e Caribbean a r e a , a l t h o u g h t h e Charnaesyce, T e t r a n i c r a , Jacquemontia and P o l y g a l a a r e r e s t r i c t e d t o t h e n o r t h e a s t e r n p o r t i o n of t h e Caribbean.
The f l o r i s t i c c o m p o s i t i o n i s c l e a r l y u n d e r e d a p h i c c o n t r o l a s n o t many 05 t h e e v e r g r e e n bushland s p e c i e s which o c m r on t h e Iiiiiestone p l a i n rnanage t o i n h a b i t t h e sandy p l a i n , A l i m i t e d r a n g e of p o l l i n a t o r s may add t o t h e d i f f i c u l t y many s p e c i e s must have i n e s t a b l i s h i n g i n t h i s o v e r d r a i n e d , o v e r a l k a l i n e , u n d e r n o u r i s h e d s u b s t r a t e . It i s n o t s u r - p r i s i n g t h a t t h i s v e g e t a t i o n i n c l u d e s a s dominants niernbers of s u c h
c a l c i p h i l i c f a m i l i e s a s t h e Euphorbiaceae, C e l a s t r a c e a e and E a l p i g h i a c e a e . Except f o r t h e o b v i o u s l y d i s t u r b e d a r e a s t h e r e i s l i t t l e i n t h e f l o r a o r t h e p h y s i o ~ n o ~ y of t h e p l a n t s s u g g e s t i n g t h e i n f l u e n c e of man o r h i s animqls. The r e s i s t a n c e of some s i m i l a r c o ! m u n i t i e s t o f l o r i s t i c a d u l t e r a t i o n I)y s p e c i e s t r a n s p o r t e d hp man h a s been coxrciented on by S a u e r (1967). I'lowever, t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of lonp, p a s t u s e of f i r e o r c u t t i n g o u t of tile l a r g e r t r e e s c a n n o t be d i s m i s s e d a s r e a s o n s f o r t h e l i m i t e c ! h e i g h t of t h e s c r u b r a t h e r t h a n t h e obvious rrind and e d a p h i c i k ? h i . h i t 2 n t s t o growth, On o t h e r i s l a n d s , v e ~ e t a t i o n l i k e t h a t of
Azegada's sandy p l a i n i s c o n s i d e r e d a p a r t of t h e c o a s t a l dune v e g e t a t i o n . P a l m e t t o P o i n t , Barbuda, t o judge Sroiil t h e l i t e r a t u r e and photographs may e l s o have a s u f f i c i e n t a r e a of sandy ? l a i n f o r i t t o be c o n s i d e r e d d i s t i n c t i v e .
Yo o b s e r v a t i o n s were made of p o s s i b l e p o l l i n a t o r s on t h e p l a i n b u t t h e v i s i t o r i s s t r u c k w i t h t h e sameness of f l o w e r s of s e v e r a l d i f f e r e n t s p e c i e s . ' f i e Jacquirzia, Jacque!nontia, Cynanchun, E r i t h a l i s , Zrnodia and 3uumelia a l l have s c i a l l , tube-lj.lte f l o w e r s , and t h e Croton, Chamaesyce and F o l y z a l a have d i f f e r e n t l y s h a ~ e d f l o ~ . r e r s of t h e s.>.r:e order of s i z e , A 1 1 of t h e s e Flowers a r e 1:rj.lliant w h i t e i n t h e sunsliine but beco)?e less cons?icuoils l a t e i n t h e day o r a t dusk. The Lantana i n v o 3 u c r a t a h a s a s m a l l w h i t e f l o w e r t o o , but j.t beco,;les c o n s p i c u o u s l a t e i n t h e d a y o r a t d u s t trhen i t t a k e s on a p u r p l i s h hue and a p p e a r s a l m o s t i r r i d e s c e n t
a,o,-zinst t h e f o l i a g e . a n o t h e r flower-Forin s;mdrome i s suggested by t h e trqo cjrcilids and t-.he B~yrsoniaa. w'ni.ch have crealn:~ Plowers wit;? a good ad- r:iivi:ure G G p u r p l e from t h r o a t l i n e s and. sorletirnes yellowisli o r orange i n t h e t h r o a t . The f l o w e r of t h e Struropl'ia i s riot u n l i k e t h i s i!? c o l o r p a t t e r n .
L a S a s t i l l e and R i c h o n d ( 1 9 7 3 ) r e p o r t e d two s p e c i e s oE humminzbird fr01i3 Bnegada, both s e e n i n nuia1)ers on beaclles and one on t h e s c r u b o F t h e sandy p l a i n , The t y p i c a l hur~mingbi.rd flo;,rer, i..e., a r e d t u b e , no Era- vrance and s i t u a t e d a.bove t h e .ground, i s a b s e n t From t h e n a t i v e f l o r a of
b 2
Aneoada except. f o r Ciplonia micropl~yl.la, 3 r d t h e r e a r e no such flowers a t a l l i n t h e beach a r e a s o r t h e sa.,?dy p'l.airl, Tt, i s w e l l known t h a t hun~~ling- h i r d s r e l y on i n s e c t s a s a s o u r c e of p r o t e i n , but t h e r e a r e probably f e w a r e a s of t h e world where hummingbirds e x i s t without f l o w e r s of t h e t y p i c a l humwingbird p o l l i n a t i o n morphology.
Another non b o t a n i c a l f e a t u r e s e e n on t h i s v e g e t a t i o n , c h i e f l y on sh?:ubs of Crossopetalum rhacoma and C a s s i n e xylocarpa a r e t h e abi.indant s n a i l s , %:.riiael~s vi.rgillatus e l o n s a t u s ( 3 ~ d j . n ~ ) ~ a s many a s 50 p e r bush 7 !n t s l . 1 . These a d h e r e s o t i s h t l y t o t h e branches t h a t t o p u l l one o f f s t r i n s t h e bark, y e t a f t e r a n i e h t of wind storr<t, a l l had d i s a p p e a r e d and two days l a t e r v e r y few had r e a p p e a r e d , Syent s h e l l s of t h e s e s n a i l s a r e a . h n d a n t 011 t h e sandy s u r f a c e of t h e p l a i n .
The Limestone P l a i n
The lirnestone p l a i n h o l d s t h e r i c h e s t f l o r a on t h e i s l a n d , and w h i l e many p l a n t s nay be f o ~ i l d throughout, i t i s by no means homogeneous,
Reasons f o r v a r i a t i o n s i n f l o r a and v e g e t a t i o n a r e n o t always a p p a r e n t , A t t h e e x t r e n e e a s t end of t h e i s l a n d on t h e s h e l l mounds and nearby, t h e r e i s a woodland w i t h a c l o s e d canopy and t r e e s 20 f e e t t a l l of
Zanthoxylwn, P i s o n i a and o t h e r a r b o r e s c e n t s p e c i e s . Not f a r t o t h e w e s t , t h i s f o r m a t i o n undergoes changes which may be a t t r i b u t e d l a r g e l y t o g r a z i n g . The t r e e s a r e s m a l l e r , t h e r e i s open s p a c e between them, and t h e r e i s l i t t l e s o i l cover. The major wooded a r e a of t h e i s l a n d e a s t of The S e t t l e m e n t c o u l d probably be c l a s s e d a s a t h o r n woodland, y e t t h e mesquite, a c a c i a s , c i t r u s and o t h e r s p e c i e s t y p i c a l of t h o r n woodland on nearby i s l a n d s a r e wanting h e r e , and n o t even c a c t i a r e ~ l e n t i f u l . There a r e a rlumber of s p e c i e s w i t h t h o r n y t r u n k s o r s p i n e s on f l e s h y b a s a l l e a v e s , but more remarkable i s t h e number of s p e c i e s ( o r p m c e n t a g e of t h e f l o r a - ) w i t h s p i n y , s m a l l l e a v e s . X s h l o c k i a , ~ o m o c l a d i a , P i c t e t i a , P i t h e c e l l o b i u m , C a e s a l p i n i a , l.lalpighia, J a c q u i n i a and Ernodea a l l have l e a t h e r y , s h i n y l e a v e s w i t h s h a r p s p i n e s , a f e a t u r e w e l l r e p r e s e n t e d i n t h e f l o r a s of Cuba and H i s p a n i o l a but perhaps not common elsewhere,
A second f e a t u r e of t h i s v e g e t a t i o n i s t h e tendency f o r p l a n t s t o forrn " l a b y r i n t h shrubs." Such s h r u b s a r e an i m p e n e t r a b l e mass of woody t w i g s and t h o r n s w i t h t h e t i n y l e a v e s w e l l p r o t e c t e d w i t h i n , and may be a r e s p o n s e t o t h e Dresence of a n i b b l i n g h e r 3 i v o r e , e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e absence of g r a s s . On Anegada t h e s e s h r u b s sometimes s t a n d 1.5 m h i g h and extend 1.5 n a c r o s s , sonietirnes forminp, t h i c k e t s o v e r e x t e n s i v e a r e a s . - F o r e s t i e r a eggersiaila, Clerodendron, I,yciurn, Randia and C'plonia a l l t a k e ol? t h i s form h e r e and such s p e c i e s a s Zizyphus, P i t ! ~ e c e l l o b i ~ m and
Caesalpirlia a r e n o t f a r froin i t , Co~~linicarrxs a l ~ d .!acgirin'ia h e r t e r i have a s i m i l a r appearance but t h e i r s t r u c t u r e see-i.s t n p r o v i d e :.ess ?rol:ecti.on f r w e r a z i n c , Tk:is rlep,rnded h ~ ~ s h l . a n d o r a t ~ n v ~ l m ~ : : thr>-rv! \,rootilaly-: pyter,.ds t o t h e w e s t e r n edge of t h e l i m e s t o i ~ e ~ 1 a i . n ~.;~i.i-.h re~io'"i1. cl-i.flcercnces i;?
h e i g h t p e r h a p s a s s o c i z t e d w i t h v a r i ~ t i n n s i r ~ ~1-zzii7:; ; ? T ~ S S L I T C . .:Jet~i:~$-?.
t h e n o r t h s h o r e dune t h e r e i s a dense thicket o r krilr!ih(:)iz for!nation of Cassine, Ynacona and sor!e o t h e r s p e c i e s wllic'n a l s o occur c?? t h e sand;-
;!i,?%n. T o u r r ~ e E o r t i a and F i c u s .are ~ l - s o -Enl.lild here. J Q ~ z ; 1,~psi: of ,I?-,..
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s c a t t e r e d on t h e s u r f a c e . Here a r e t h e cofisi3icunus sman:'ls of
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?ilosocerel?s r o y e r i i i 2nd e a i p l l ~ ~ t i c 'iylocf2rci~s t r i ? ? n ~ . : s . ':i%e~:her t h i s f l . o r a i s r e a l l y r i c h e r t!,aii elsc?yiicre on t h e -1 : j l n i ? ? i s :i!-o'?le.- m a t i c a l , b u t a qumher of s y e c i e s a r e -Freq:.!cnt e h i ~ : i a r e l o t cnns!>!rcluouselsewhere.
The S e t t l e n e u t i.s t h e ;?ost h e a v i l y gra:<eil a r e a oq ic.1ai.1~: zj:d it i s h a r e OF a l l b L ~ t the jiiost resistai-12 s p e c i e s . Sev\re~_'sl. di.i2ii7it!t5.ve s : ~ i r . c i - c s l i v e iwneati?. t h e grazi.ns li.r;:.its of ever), s h e q and g o a t s irlch:.tF:l,n
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Ct!.sctli:~? ur?:?el?-at-.a a s wel.1 a s s p e c i e s of Clianaesyce. Also w e l l ~ s i : a b l i s h e d a-rou~ci 'The S e " L l e ~ ! ~ e n t a r e a number of a l i e n s such a s % k y s a l i s cordzl:n, C o l ~ u s--
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!^!l.nc ;>a?:?inderisi s.S e v e r a l s p e c i e s were observed o n l y on t h e c u t arzd grazer1 eriges or t h e a i r p o r t runway and s e v e r a l o t h e r s were s e e n :-)i-~ly near t h e :?i:i:po~t e n t r a n c e . Those : ) a r t i c u l a r t o t h e ru;lrTay a r e a l l wide r a n g i n s a i i e n s w h i l e t h o s e s e e n o n l y n e a r t h e a i r p o r t e n t r a n c e i n c l u d e s p e c j . 2 ~ 1irhicl-1
a r e probably n a t i v e . Reasons f o r t h e s p e c i a l d i v e r s i t y at. t h i s w e s t e r n edge of t h e lirflestone were not e v i d e n t , a l t h o l ~ ~ h d i s t u r ? j a n c e i s c e r t a i n 1 . y an important f a c t o r . T l a n t s found ol11y oil the nln!.ray a r e :
Achyranthes a s p e r a Coerhavia e r e c t a Arcemone mexicana
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P l a n t s found o n l y n e a r t h e a i r p o r t e n t r a n c e : Sporobolus pyramidatus
Capparis f l e m o s a
FIeliotrnpitir;7 1nicronhyl.luin.
Some 210 s p e c i e s of v a s c u l a r p l a n t s a r e kncix.~n t o ZroT.1 on A!le:ada o u t s i d e of c u l t i v a t i o n and a n o t h e r '31 s ~ e c i e s a r e c u l t i . v a r e d , r m s t l y a s garden ornamentals. The known non-vascular Flor:! c o ~ n p r i s e s th r e e 'oryo- phytes, one c h a r o p h y t e , one b l u e green a l - ~ a a n d ! ? i n e l i c h e n s , Tilere a r e
no p t e r i d o p h y t e s , This f l o r a i n c l u d e s one endemic g e n u s , two endemic s p e c i e s o f f l o w e r i n g p l a n t and one endemic l i c h e n . Yost of t h e s p e c i e s o c c u r r i n g on Anegada o c c u r a l s o on P u e r t o S i c o and on o t h e r s of t h e V i r g i n I s l a n d s , b u t t h e r e a r e some which b y p a s s t h e s e c l o s e s t l a n d masses and a r e d i s j u n c t on k l i s p a n i o l a o r Cuba o r a r e found on o n e o r more OF t h e f l a t " l i m e s t o n e c a r i b e e s . " I 4 z i l e many s p e c i e s now growing on t h e i s l a n d a r e p a n - c a r i b b e a n o r p a n - t r o p i c ~ l weeds, t h e i d e n t i f i a b l e a d u l t e r a t i o n o f t h e f l o r a o u t s i d e t h e immediate e n v i r o n s af man i s negligible. The u a s t u r e anirnafs which roam t h e i a l a r l d h a v e had a s i c n i f i c a n t i n y a c t o n t h e physiopoil:y of t h e v e g e t a t i o n but h a v e n o t l e d t o t h e esl:ab!.ishment of many o b v i o ~ . i s l y a l i e n s p e c i e s .
'The a l k a l i n e substrate, i r ~ s o l a t % o n , x e r i c r n o i s t t l r e r e g i m e and t h e e f f e c t s o f wind arrd s a l t s p r a y ~ n a k e t h e i s l a n d u n s u i t a b l e f o r a :!;rezt p r o p o r t i o n o f t h e C a r i b ? > e s n f l o r a . Sut s i n l i l a r h ~ l - l i t a t s a r e t h e r u l e on t h e l . i i i ~ e s t o n e c a r i b e e s , t h e c h a i n of snail f l a t c o r a l i n e l a n d masses f l a i l k i n g t h e o u t s i d e o f t h e Carlhbeai? a r c from BarFjados t o S o u t h F l o r i d a , and n a n y s p e c i e s o f f l o w e r i n g p l a n t s a r e cornrqo!? t h r o u z h o u t t h e c h a i n , i n c l u d i n g Anegada. S i n i l a r h a b i t a t s a p p e a r i n l i m i t e d a r e a s of t h e G r e a t e r A n t i l l e s , and s o 2 e of t h e s p e c i e s from .4rte,qacla and o t h e r lime- s t o n e o u t e r i s l a n d s o c c u r i n t h e s e s i t e s , Ccean c u r r e n t s , p c e v a i l i n e winds a l r d b i r d r o u t e s Rove <.:I d i r e c t i o i i s which t e n d t o f a c i l i t a t e t r a n s - p o r t of m a t e r i a l Cro!!i Aizegada t o t h e lort ti^ and w e s t and t o o t h e r i s l a n d s , but d i s c o u r a g e inovemeilt i n t h e o p p o s i t e d i r e c t i o n , t h u s i s o l a t j - n g A n e ~ a d a frorii o t h e r b i o t a and from t h e gene p o o l s of t h e r e s t o f t h e C a r i b b e a n . The r e s u l t i s t h e smc~ll. :Jut d i s t i n c t i v e f l o r a and v e g e t a t i o n s t r u c t u r e , s e l e c t e d i n t h e presuinably s h o r t l i f e of t h i s r e c e n t l y c r e a t e d . is3.and w i t h i t s r i g o r o u s s e l e c t i o n regime.
The b i r d ' l i f e of Anegada was r e c e n t l y d e s c r i b e d by LaDastil1.e and Richmond ( 2 9 7 3 ) . They r e c o r d - e d two d o v e s and a g r a s s q u i t a s t h e o n l y s r a n i v e r o u s s p e c i e s , none of t h e s e m i g r a t o r y . Ducks and s h o r e b i r d s , which s o m e t i n e s Teed on v e g e t a b l e m a t t e r , o c c u r a s w i n t e r rni2r-ants. CF :he 19 s p e c i e s of t e r r e s t r i a l h a b i t a t , o n l y two doves, a cuckoo, a n a n i , t v o humn;in::birds, a ~ ~ l c ~ c ' x i i ~ g ~ ; i r d , a t h r a s h e r , a r ~ r i a p;rassn,uit c a n he ~ 1 . 1 3 -
p e c t e d of includi.qllg p i a n t m a t e r i a l i n t h e i r r e p l a r d i e t and nolie of t h e s e s y e c i e s i s m . i g r a t o r y , i . ~ p p o r t u ~ ? i t i e s , f o r I n t r o d u c t i o v ? . of p l a i ~ t s p e c i e s by b i r d s I s r e s t r i c t e d t o t h e a c c i d e n t of 3 bird. Tc?r o f f c o u r s e c o i n c i d e n t ~ . 7 i t 1 1 1.li.s c a r r y i n g 7)ropagahle m a t e r i a l .
n ? o r t h e most p a r t , t h e c l h a r a c t e r o-E t h e F l o r a s u g g e s t s a n j.inn~igrant p a t t e r i i where a random s e l e c t i o i l o-F s p e c i e s manaf;ec:l t o r e a c h and c o l o n i z e t h e is1ai;cl. The 3 u b i a c e a e and Compositae, o f t e n t h e l a r g e s t f a i x i l i e s i n t r o p i c a l f l o r a s , a r e n o t t h e l a r g e s t h e r e , and t h e y a r e r e p r e s e n t e d on Anegada by s e v e n and e i g h t g e n e r a r e s p e c l i v e l y , e a c h %enus w i t h one s p e c i e s , and more t h a n h a l f t h e s p e c i e s of t h e s e two f a m i l i e s on Anegada c a n be t r a c e d t o s o u r c e s d i s t a n t and i n d e p e n d e n t o f t h e e v o l u t i o n a r y c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e n o r t h e r n and e a s t e r n Caribbean. 3 u t i n some g r o u p s , e v o l u t i o n seerns t o be " L k i i ~ g p l a c e on Anegada o r a t l e a s t t h e Anegada p l a n t s seem t o b e p a r t o f g r o u p s u n d e r g o i n g s p e c i a t i o n i n t h e r e g i o n , i f n o t p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n t h e same gene p o o l s . Chamaesyce i s t h e b e s t example w i t h e i g h t s p e c i e s o c c u r r i n g on Anegada, most o f them r a n g i n g t h r o u g h t h e l i m e s t o n e c a r i b e e s o r G r e a t e r A n t i l l e s , b u t a l s o t h e U r t i c a c e a e ( p i l e a ) ,
Caesal?'ci~i-aceae ( C a e s a l p i n i a ) , i.!imosaceae ( ~ i s h l o c k i a ) , ?.ialpj.ghiaceae (:'aly,i.phi.a ), Gleaceae ( F o r e s t i e r a ) , ~ s c l e ~ i a d a c e a e ( ~ l i n c h u m ) , Ccnvolvl.ii.aceae (Zvol.vulus!, Eoraginaceae (Cordia, i i e l i o t r o ~ i u i i l ) , each.
h a s e i t h e r enc!emic, s p e c i e s on Anezada o r v e r y s i m i l a r and c l o s e l y r e - - l a t e d s p e c i e s n i t h i . n t h e evol1,itionary t h e a t . r e of t h e A n t i . l l e s . The
?hove d o e s not d i s m i s s , but n e i t h e r does i t r e q u i r e , F a s t l a n d connec- t i o n between kneeada and o t h e r i s l a n d s . i f l ~ e t h e r o r n o t Anegada was
~ o n t i ~ n l r o ~ n :sitii o t h e r V i r e i n ' I s l a t ~ d s d u r i n g t h e p l e i s t o c e n e g l a c i a t i o n s , i t h a s had e f f e c ~ i v e S i ~ l o g i c a l i s o l a t i o n of a s i g n i f i c a n t o r d e r s i n c e . Anc? because of t h e d i r e c t i o n of p r i n c i p a l v e c t o r s , a new tax011 e v o l v i n g o n Anegada !7j..cht !?owremain endemic, f o r l o n g but have i t s r a n g e extended downstrear? t o o t h e r i s l . a n d s hy wind o r w a t e r .
'The c h e c k ? . i s t i s based on p u b l i s h e d r e p o r t s by n r e v i o u s workers and t h e t r i t e r ' s nwrl c n l l . o c t i o n s a~zd o b s e r v a t i o n s , Four v i s i t s were made t o
Aneyada, t h e Tirst i n 1959 f o r a few h o u r s when no c o l l e c t i o n s were made
and t h e second i n 1967 for: a l i k e time when a Few c o l l e c t i o n s were made
t- *
13 Arcy 1 9 7 2 2 ) . 'Elen, f a c i ? i . t a t e d by t h e \ J e s t I n d i e s L a b o r a t o r y , two v i s t t s of aboui: a w e e k each were made i n February and August 1971 f o r i n t e n s i v e
collect in^.
:,lotor t r a n s p o r t was a v s i l . a b l e on b o t h o c c a s i o n s . A l i ~ i t e d ranp,e 07 n a t e r i a l . c o l l e c t e d by :v'. L. 3 r i t t a n and id. C. F i s h l o c k was 5 o r r 0 1 ~ e d S r m Yew York n o t a n i c a l Garden t o c l a r i f y s p e c i f i c p o i n t s . The m n i n s e t of c o l l e c t i o n s i s lodged w i t h t h e M i s s o u r i 3 o t a . n i c a l Garden, hlt r'rupli-cates and even smie o-F t h e u n i c a t e c o l l e c t i o n s were p l a c e d w i t h a nur?ht?l: o f ocher institu@ic>:?:;. The a b b r e v i a t i o n s f o r h e r b a r i a which f o l l o w c o l l e c t o r s ' numbers a r e t h o s e l i s t e d i n I n d e x Herbariorum P a r t I ed. 5 (Regnun V e g e t a b i l e 31. 1964. U t r e c h t ) ,Acknowledgements
Dr. F. 9aymond Fosberg, S m i t h s o n i a n I n s t i t u t i o n , and H. Gray I f u l t e r , West I n d i e s L a b o r a t o r y , a r r a n g e d t h e s e r i e s of s t e p s which made f i e l d work on Anegada p o s s i b l e . Don Ucent, S o u t h e r n I l l i n o i s U n i v e r s i t y ,
Carbondale, and D a n i e l F. A u s t i n , F l o r i d a A t l a n t i c U n i v e r s i t y , a l s o h e l p e d i n a r r a n g i n g s u p p o r t . ?k. and Firs. J o s e p h S o a r e s and P/rr, and Mrs. Vernon S o a r e s p r o v i d e d h o u s i n g , d r y i n g f a c i l i t i e s and r e l a x i n g comwany d u r i n g t h e v i s i t s t o Anegada, and t h e y were a b l e t o p r o v i d e boat and v e h i c u l a r t r a n s p o r t a t i o r l . The I-Ionourable I v a n Dawson, M i n i s t e r of N a t u r a l Resources and P u h l i c :!ealth, was a b l e t o p e r n i t a c c e s s t o a s e r i e s of a e r i a l photographs of t h e i s l a n d . D r , P a t r i c i a i4olmgren was k i n d enoue_h t o have a l e n g t h y l i s t of B r i t t o n and f i s h l o c k s p e c i n e n s
s e l e c t e d and s e n t t o me on l o a n from t h e Yew York B o t a n i c a l Garden.
G r a t e F u l acknowledgement i s made t o t h o s e who i d e n t i f i e d v a r i o u s c o l l e c - t i o n s : Derek C. 3urch, U n i v e r s i t y of South F l o r i d a ; W. J, Byas, D i v i s i o n of i ~ I o l l u s k s , Smithsonian I n s t i t u t i o n ; S e r r i t t Davidse, M i s s o u r i 3 o t a n i c a l Garden; F r a n c i s Drouet, Academy of N a t u r a l S c i e n c e s , P h i l a d e l p h i a ;
M a r s h a l l R. Crosby, I ~ I i s s o u r i B o t a n i c a l Garden; R i c h a r d A. Howard, Arnold Arboretum; Harold L. Levin, Department of E a r t h S c i e n c e s , Washington U n i v e r s i t y , S t . Louis; W a l t e r H. Lewis, M i s s o u r i B o t a n i c a l Garden; Duncan PI. P o r t e r , S m i t h s o n i a n I n s t i t u t i o n ; George R. P r o c t o r , I n s t i t u t e of
J a m a i c a ; C l i f f o r d M. Wetmore, U n i v e r s i t y o f I l i n n e s o t a .
William T. G i l l i s , Arnold Arboretum, and Walter H e Lewis k i n d l y read t h i s manuscript and made h e l p f u l comments.
Form a t
The c h e c k l i s t f o l l o w s t h e o r d e r of B r i t t o n and Wilson (1923, 1925) which i s e s s e n t i a l l y t h a t of Dalla Torre and Harms. Nomenclature has been
c o r r e c t e d , but r e c o u r s e t o t y p e specimens was made i n o n l y a few cases.
C i t a t i o n of "B. & W." o r of a B r i t t o n or a Fishlock specimen i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e s p e c i e s was r e p o r t e d by B r i t t o n and Wilson (1.c.). Only cul- t i v a t e d s p e c i e s a r e r e p o r t e d s o l e l y on t h e b a s i s of s i g h t records.
A . VASCULAR PLAi\ITS
POACEAE
Reported by Tchomburgk (1332) but not c o l l e c t e d s i n c e . He may have been r e f e r r i n g t o L a s i a c i s d i v a r i c a t a .
Cenchrus e c h i n a t u s
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L.F'requent near t h e s e a and s c a t t e r e d p l a n t s on t h e sandy p l a i n . D'Arcy 4515 (P10).
C h l o r i s p e t r a e a Sw.
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I n chickenyard, S e t t i n g Point. D' Arcy 4830 (MO).
Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Willd.
--
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-Weed around t h e a i r p o r t . D'Arcy 5117 (MO).
Echinochloa colonum ---.--
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(i.) Gaertn.On limestone pavement between The Settlement and Loblolly,Bay.
This g r a s s w i t h s t a n d s high temperatures from t h e heated limestone.
Leaves on Anegada m a t e r i a l have prominent p u r p l e t r a n s v e r s e l i n e s . D'Arcy 2127 (FLAS).
E r a g r o s t i s
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t e n e l l a (L.) Beauv.S c a t t e r e d clumps around t h e i s l a n d , both on t h e sandy p l a i n and t h e limestone and i n The Settlement. D'Arcy 4803 (FAU, MO, SIU, US);
4385 (MO).
E r s r o s t i s c i l i a r i s (L.) R. B r . [= E. urbaniana sensu Be &
w.]
- -
S c a t t e r e d clumps around t h e i s l a n d . B r i t t o n & Fishlock 957 (BY);
D'Arcy 4823 (ZO, SIU); 5064B (MO).
1 4
L a s i a c i s d i v a r i c a t a (L.) Hitchc.
Rare, growing i n shade of Pisonia t r e e s on t h e sandy p l a i n . D'Arcy 4843 (MO).
LeptochlotJpsis v i r g a t a (Poir. ) Yates [= Uniola v i r g a t a l .
I s o l a t e d clumps, mostly n e a r t h e sea, v a r i o u s p a r t s of t h e c o a s t - l i n e . D'Arcy 4926 (C, FAU, MO, US); 4873 (NO).
Panicum geminatum Forsk.
"Water h o l e near settlement." B r i t t o n & Fishlock 1016
(NY).
Panicum utowanaeum Scribn.
"Thickets, junction of rocky and sandy p a r t s . " This s p e c i e s has prominent brown nodes. Fishlock 45 (NY).
P a s p a l m l a m Lam.
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Frequent i s o l a t e d clumps on t h e sandy p l a i n . B. & W.; D'Arcy 4798 (MO); 4358 (MO).
Sporobolus pyramidatus (Lam,) Hitchc.
I n s c r u b west of a i r p o r t , D'Arcy 4891 (MG).
Sporobolus v i r g i n i c u s (L.) Kunth
A t edge of Flamingo Pond; sandy p l a i n near t h e sea. D'Arcy 4897 (MO, SIU).
Tragus b e r t e r o n i a n u s Schult.
Abundant l o c a l l y i n i n t e r d u n e a r e a behind Loblolly Bay. D'Arcy 4955 (C, 1.10).
Abildgaardia ovata (Burm. f.) Kral
B. & W. [as A ,
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monostachya (L.) ~ a s s k . 1 ,Cyperus c u s p i d a t u s 9. B.K.
3. & W.
Cyperus elegans L.
S c a t t e r e d behind dunes of n o r t h shore, Loblolly Bay. B. & 1J.;
D'Arcy 4922 (MO); 4923 (MO).
Qperus h u m i l i s Kunth
Western p o r t i o n of t h e l i m e s t o n e p l a i n . D'Arcy 49068 (PIG).
W e r u s p l a n i f o l i u s Rich.
Abundant but w i d e l y s c a t t e r e d on t h e sandy p l a i n . B e 6 W e [as C. brunneus Sw.]; D'Arcy 4847 (30); 4849 (Pi0); 4857 (NO).
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E l e o c h a r i s a t r o p u r p u r e a (Retz
.
) KunthForming d e n s e mats i n and around "The Creek," a muddy pond n o r t h - e a s t of The S e t t l e m e n t . D'Arcy 5144 (C, IJ, MO).
E l e o c h a r i s m u t a t a (L.) R. & S.
A few clumps i n "The Creek." D'Arc'y 5067 (NO, SIU).
F i m b r i s t y l i s inaguensis- B r i t t .
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"Sandy p l a i n , Yest End." B r i t t o n & F i s h l o c k 966 (NY),
F i m b r i s t y l i s Vahl
S c a t t e r e d clumps around t h e s a n d y p l a i n . D'Arcy 4811 (BM, C, FAU, MO, SIU); 4836 (FAU, MO).
ARECACEAE Cocos n u c i f e r a L.
P
A few t r e e s around The S e t t l e m e n t and a s m a l l avenue a t t h e west end well away from t h e s e a . S i g h t r e c o r d .
S a b a l causiarurn (Cook) Becc.
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A f e w p l a n t s on t h e sandy p l a i n (cf. D' Arcy 1971b). D' Arcy 4950 (FAU, NO, SIU).
T h r i n a x m o r r i s i i Wendl.
A numberous c o l o n y i n a s w a l e n e a r West End. ( c f . ~ ' A r c y 1971b).
9. 6 W e ; D'Arcy 5096 (A, MO, SIU).
Bromelia p i n g u i n L.
S p a r i n g l y c u l t i v a t e d a s a hedge around The S e t t l e m e n t . S i g h t r e c o r d ,
T i l l a n d s i a u t r i c u l a t a L.
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Occasional i n P i s o n i a t r e e s i n v a r i o u s p a r t s of t h e i s l a n d ,
13. & G.; D' Arcy 4899 ( ~ 5 0 ) .
C OtPlELINA CEA E Commelina e l e g a n s Kunth
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.-S e t c r e a s e a purpurea Boom
C u l t i v a t e d i n The S e t t l e m e n t f o r ornament. S i g h t r e c o r d . LILIACEAE
Aloe barbadensis. Fli 11.
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N a t u r a l i z e d on l i m e s t o n e pavement i n and t o t h e immediate west of The S e t t l e m e n t . S i g h t r e c o r d .
AMARYLLIDA CEAE Agave missionurn T r e l .
Abundant and conspicuous on t h e l i m e s t o n e p l a i n west of The S e t t l e m e n t . B. & W.; D'Arcy 4910 (~0).
Furcraea t u b e r o s a
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--PA i t . f.A s o l i t a r y p l a n t c u l t i v a t e d i n The S e t t l e m e n t . B. & W. ; D' Arcy 4982 (IJ, MO).
Pancratium sp.
C u l t i v a t e d f o r ornament i n The S e t t l e m e n t . S i g h t r e c o r d . S a n s e v i e r i a m e t a l l i c a &r'ome & Labroy
C u l t i v a t e d f o r ornament i n The S e t t l e m e n t
.
S i g h t r e c o r d .Encyclia b i f i d a (Aubl. ) B r i t t . & Wils.
Abundant on t h e sandy p l a i n where i t grows a s an e p i p h y t e on low shrubs, t h e s c a p e s waving above t h e scrub. Occasional p l a n t s occur on t r e e s i n e a s t e r n p a r t s of t h e i s l a n d . D'Arcy 4827 (C, DAO, FAU, FTG, GH, IJ, ?TO, NSW, W, SIU).
