Natural area inventory of Pender County, North Carolina - Page 146 |
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140
pennsylvanica) subdominant, and pond cypress ( Taxodium ascendens) and swamp red maple ( Acer
rubrum var. trilobum) prominent. This change in canopy dominance may be related to tidal amplitude,
with the community approaching non- tidal swamp upstream. Canopy trees are moderately large,
commonly averaging 12- 18 inches in diameter, with cypress trees reaching diameters greater than three
feet. The moderate to moderately dense understory is variously dominated by green ash, Carolina ash
( F. caroliniana), and swamp red maple. The dense to open shrub layer is variously dominated by titi
( Cyrilla racemiflora), wax- myrtle ( Myrica cerifera var. cerifera), and cane ( Arundinaria tecta). Dwarf
palmetto ( Sabal minor) is a patch- dominant, while sarvis holly ( Ilex amelanchier) and Carolina ash are
locally prominent, especially upstream. Common brome sedge ( Carex bromoides ssp. bromoides) is
a patch dominant in the open to patchy ground layer. This community occupies a majority of the site,
and is particularly scenic and of high quality in the larger tributary streams.
Nonriverine Swamp Forest, one of several communities found only at Sledge Forest in the site,
occupies saturated to periodically flooded mucky loams on nonalluvial flats. Prominent in the
moderately dense pine/ hardwood canopy are baldcypress, swamp red maple, loblolly pine ( Pinus
taeda), swamp tupelo, and green ash. This is a rare old- growth occurrence, with cypress trees dated
to more than 350 years of age and estimated to be 500 years, and loblolly pine dated to more than 300
years. The moderate understory is dominated by young canopy species, with swamp red bay ( Persea
palustris) and dwarf palmetto prominent in the moderate to open shrub layer. The ground layer is
patchy to sparse, with sedges, netted chainfern ( Woodwardia areolata), and lizard’s- tail as patch
dominants.
The Sledge Forest area contains one of the largest occurrences of the Peatland Atlantic White Cedar
Forest in southeastern North Carolina. It occupies saturated to periodically flooded organic soils. The
moderate to dense canopy is dominated by Atlantic white cedar ( Chamaecyparis thyoides), regionally
known as juniper, with loblolly bay ( Gordonia lasianthus) prominent. Canopy trees are mature, up to
60 feet tall with diameters reaching 16 inches. Swamp red maple and loblolly bay are prominent in the
understory, and fetterbush ( Lyonia lucida) is dominant in the dense to moderate shrub layer. The
ground layer is sparse, with ferns collectively prominent.
Pond Pine Woodland occurs on saturated to periodically flooded organic soils at Sledge Forecst. Pond
pine ( Pinus serotina) dominates the open to moderate canopy, with loblolly bay prominent to
subdominant. The dense shrub layer is dominated by fetterbush and gallberry ( Ilex coriacea), with titi
prominent. The ground layer is sparse to absent. This community occupies the majority of the habitat
surrounding the longleaf pine uplands at Sledge Forest.
Isolated sandy ridges at Sledge Forest support three longleaf pine community types. Lower areas with
wet sandy soils that tend to dry out later in the growing season support Wet Pine Flatwoods Wet
Spodosol Variant. Spodosol soils are naturally infertile and result in a lower species richness. The Wet
Pine Flatwoods canopy is moderately open to moderately dense, with longleaf pine ( Pinus palustris)
dominant. Old- growth canopies occur at several of the flatwoods areas, with pines reaching 18- 23
inches in diameter, and the largest having been aged to over 300 years. Inkberry ( Ilex glabra), blue
huckleberry ( Gaylussacia frondosa), southern blueberry ( Vaccinium tenellum), and Carolina
sheeplaurel ( Kalmia carolina) are prominent to codominant in the dense to moderate shrub layer. The
ground layer is sparse to dense, with bracken ( Pteridium aquilinum var. pseudocaudatum) a frequent
Object Description
Description
| Title | Natural area inventory of Pender County, North Carolina - Page 146 |
| Full Text | 140 pennsylvanica) subdominant, and pond cypress ( Taxodium ascendens) and swamp red maple ( Acer rubrum var. trilobum) prominent. This change in canopy dominance may be related to tidal amplitude, with the community approaching non- tidal swamp upstream. Canopy trees are moderately large, commonly averaging 12- 18 inches in diameter, with cypress trees reaching diameters greater than three feet. The moderate to moderately dense understory is variously dominated by green ash, Carolina ash ( F. caroliniana), and swamp red maple. The dense to open shrub layer is variously dominated by titi ( Cyrilla racemiflora), wax- myrtle ( Myrica cerifera var. cerifera), and cane ( Arundinaria tecta). Dwarf palmetto ( Sabal minor) is a patch- dominant, while sarvis holly ( Ilex amelanchier) and Carolina ash are locally prominent, especially upstream. Common brome sedge ( Carex bromoides ssp. bromoides) is a patch dominant in the open to patchy ground layer. This community occupies a majority of the site, and is particularly scenic and of high quality in the larger tributary streams. Nonriverine Swamp Forest, one of several communities found only at Sledge Forest in the site, occupies saturated to periodically flooded mucky loams on nonalluvial flats. Prominent in the moderately dense pine/ hardwood canopy are baldcypress, swamp red maple, loblolly pine ( Pinus taeda), swamp tupelo, and green ash. This is a rare old- growth occurrence, with cypress trees dated to more than 350 years of age and estimated to be 500 years, and loblolly pine dated to more than 300 years. The moderate understory is dominated by young canopy species, with swamp red bay ( Persea palustris) and dwarf palmetto prominent in the moderate to open shrub layer. The ground layer is patchy to sparse, with sedges, netted chainfern ( Woodwardia areolata), and lizard’s- tail as patch dominants. The Sledge Forest area contains one of the largest occurrences of the Peatland Atlantic White Cedar Forest in southeastern North Carolina. It occupies saturated to periodically flooded organic soils. The moderate to dense canopy is dominated by Atlantic white cedar ( Chamaecyparis thyoides), regionally known as juniper, with loblolly bay ( Gordonia lasianthus) prominent. Canopy trees are mature, up to 60 feet tall with diameters reaching 16 inches. Swamp red maple and loblolly bay are prominent in the understory, and fetterbush ( Lyonia lucida) is dominant in the dense to moderate shrub layer. The ground layer is sparse, with ferns collectively prominent. Pond Pine Woodland occurs on saturated to periodically flooded organic soils at Sledge Forecst. Pond pine ( Pinus serotina) dominates the open to moderate canopy, with loblolly bay prominent to subdominant. The dense shrub layer is dominated by fetterbush and gallberry ( Ilex coriacea), with titi prominent. The ground layer is sparse to absent. This community occupies the majority of the habitat surrounding the longleaf pine uplands at Sledge Forest. Isolated sandy ridges at Sledge Forest support three longleaf pine community types. Lower areas with wet sandy soils that tend to dry out later in the growing season support Wet Pine Flatwoods Wet Spodosol Variant. Spodosol soils are naturally infertile and result in a lower species richness. The Wet Pine Flatwoods canopy is moderately open to moderately dense, with longleaf pine ( Pinus palustris) dominant. Old- growth canopies occur at several of the flatwoods areas, with pines reaching 18- 23 inches in diameter, and the largest having been aged to over 300 years. Inkberry ( Ilex glabra), blue huckleberry ( Gaylussacia frondosa), southern blueberry ( Vaccinium tenellum), and Carolina sheeplaurel ( Kalmia carolina) are prominent to codominant in the dense to moderate shrub layer. The ground layer is sparse to dense, with bracken ( Pteridium aquilinum var. pseudocaudatum) a frequent |
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