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Soils & Geography |
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 ohnpei's
relatively small landmass has a surprisingly diverse terrain. The
Pohnpeian language distinguishes at least 16 different land zones on the
island, characterized by their different soils, plant species, elevation
and local uses. The coasts are almost uniformly skirted by coastal swamp
forests. Above this, low-lying vegetation covers the coastal strand.
Beyond, the land leaps into open grass-clad savannas, upland forests, palm
forests, remote valleys, gentle mountain slopes, sheer cliffs and
finally the cloud forest at the peaks. Pohnpei's mountains are the largest
in the Federation, reaching up to more than 2,500 feet, where their tips
are hidden in perpetual cloud. Through the varied landscape cut more than
fifty different rivers and streams, carving out dark winding troughs beneath the trees and resting in glassy pools.
 Soil
geographers have isolated eighteen types of soil on Pohnpei Island that
fall mainly into three general soil categories. Lowland areas are
dominated by the more mature, heavily-weathered oxisols, while newly
created inceptisols lie primarily on the mountain slopes. Sixty percent of
the island's land is characterized by steep orographic terrain of this
type. Low-lying swampy regions harbor poorly developed entisols. In
general, Pohnpei's soil tends to have a low pH and relatively low
fertility. Heavy rains leach out nutrients in the ground. Sometimes farmers plow quantities of
lime(1) into the fields to neutralize the excess
acid in the soil. Upland
areas have accumulated deep soil beds, but are often rocky. Trees thrive
where agricultural crops may struggle. As a whole, most of
Pohnpei's land still harbors apparently undisturbed upland forests and
lowland swamps. In 1983, only 6% of the land lacked forestation (see
chart. In the 1970's, there was a strong movement toward the broadening
of agroforestry. This seems to be a continuing trend.
HOME --- Geography
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Agriculture & Agroforestry
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The
Rainforest
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Plants
& Their Uses
| Food Crops
Examined
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 KIDI
EN MAL (kee·tee en mahl) Lycopodium cernuum is called 'dog in the grass' in Pohnpeian; possibly
a reference to its scent. It is supposedly used in homes as a
cockroach repellant.
FUNGI
 A variety of
interesting fungi, like this stinkhorn, can be found on the island. The
extremely moist, warm climate is ideal for the growth of these organisms
which thrive on nutrients in rotting plant matter. We were surprised
to find that mushrooms were even growing in the back corners of the
kitchen cabinet under our sink. Walking at night sometimes reveals small
fungi that glow an eerie green like so many watchful eyes.
(1) LIME
is crushed coral (calcium carbonate), an alkalai.
FOREST TYPES  Upland
forest and mangroves make up the bulk of Pohnpei Island's forested
land--about 115 square miles. Palm forests are dominated by coconut, ivory
nut and Clinostigma, as well as less common species. Swamp
areas are often used to cultivate giant taro.
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- Text by
Alex Zuccarelli, 2003.
- Image/Photo
Credits: Palm forest photo courtesy of Robert Roberts of the
Micronesia Zone ©1993. Stinkhorn & lycopodium
photos courtesy of College
of Micronesia Botany ©Dana Lee Ling. All other images property of Alex Zuccarelli
©2003.
Primary Sources
- Ashby, Gene
1993. Pohnpei: Island Argosy. Rainy Day Press: Eugene.
- Bernart, Luelen, John L. Fischer, Saul H. Riesenberg and Marjorie G. Whiting, translators and editors
1977. The Book of Luelen. National University Press: Canberra.
- Cobley, Leslie S.
1956. An Introduction to the Botany of Tropical Crops. Longmans, Green & Company: London.
- Colletta, Nat J.
1980. American Schools for the Natives of Ponape. East-West Center: Honolulu.
- Cox, Paul Alan and Sandra Anne Banack, editors
1991. Islands, Plants and Polynesians: An Introduction to Polynesian
Ethnobotany. Dioscorides Press, Portland.
- Fischer, John L.
1957. The Eastern Carolines. Pacific Science Board: New Haven.
- Glassman, S. F.
1952. Flora of Ponape. Bernice P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu.
- Hogarth, Peter J.
1999. The Biology of Mangroves. Oxford University Press: Oxford.
- Kruk, Remke, editor
1981. The Tropical Rain Forest: A First Encounter. Springer-Verlag: Heidelberg.
- Merlin, M., D. Jano, W. Raynor, T. Keene, J. Juvik & B. Sebastian
1992. Tuhke en Pohnpei (Plants of Pohnpei). Department of Education, Pohnpei State, Office of Historic Preservation, FSM & Environment and Policy Institute, East-West Center, University of Hawaii.
On-Line Resources (in no particular order)
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