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NORTH CAROLINA § 



General description: Along the Coastal Plain of North Carolina, one encounters ^ 



a diversity of wetland types. Dismal Swamp, dominated by cypress and hard- q 



woods, extends from southern Virginia into the northern part of the state (see > 



Virginia). Southern white cedar swamps also occur as a typical Coastal Plain 

 type. One of the most unique wetland types is the distinctive evergreen shrubby 

 vegetation referred to as "pocosin" or "bayland." These areas, characteristically 

 associated with the Carolina Bays, have been subjected to considerable ecologi- 

 cal study (Buell 1946a, b; Frey 1953; Wells 1928). The Bays are elliptical lakes 

 or depressions, some of which have filled with peat in the process of vegetation 

 development. Many still persist and there is considerable interest in their 

 geological origin. Those that have been filled with vegetation exhibit a charac- 

 teristic shrubby evergreen vegetation, with pond or pocosin pine (Pinus 

 serotina) as the primary tree associate. Typical shrubs include inkberry (Ilex 

 glabra), sweet gallberry (/. coriacea), zenobia (Zenobia pulverulenta), and 

 leatherwood (Cyrilla racemiflora). A tall-growing grass-cane (Arundinaria tecta), 

 a dwarf saw-palmetto, and a small-growing tree, Magnolia virginiana, are as- 

 sociated with the "pocosin." In the Bay area, Buell ( 1946b) has studied Jerome 

 Bog, primarily covered by "pocosin," and to the west Frey (1953) has docu- 

 mented the palynological record of Singletary Lake in Bladen State Forest. 

 Much of the Croatan National Forest also exhibits this "pocosin" flora. Other 

 wetlands include the bottomland river swamps along the major rivers on the 

 Coastal Plain and Piedmont. In the mountainous western part of the state, iso- 

 lated mountain bogs are of special interest. 



Status of the wetlands: Data on encroachments is limited. Much of the wetland 

 owned by lumber companies is being managed. However, tracts under state 

 ownership are receiving a considerable degree of protection. 



Source of data: Data identifying specific areas is meager. Conversations with 

 Dr. Arthur Cooper, Department of Botany, North Carolina State University, 

 Raleigh, N.C., have provided invaluable general information concerning the 

 state's wetlands. 



Recommendations: The single area reported, Long Hope Creek Spruce Bog in 

 the western mountains, appears to be an isolated, undisturbed tract which needs 

 further investigation. If adequately protected from future disturbance, it 

 probably would be a logical candidate for landmark status, 



Among the other wetlands, the typical "pocosin" type should be included for 

 national recognition. A representative stand should be identified south of 

 Columbia, in and contiguous to Pettigrew State Park. Extensive tracts are also 

 reported in the Holly Shelter Wildlife Management area. Since management is 

 limited here to deer and bear, with some use of fire, it should be possible to 

 designate a sizeable tract of this unusual shrub type which would remain free of 

 any management that would disrupt its unique floristic composition. Certain 

 forest lands owned by the University of North Carolina School of Forestry might 

 also be eligible even though they are being managed for timber production. A 

 vast acreage of "pocosin" vegetation is under the ownership of lumber compa- 

 nies. Since this vegetation type is not normally productive of timber, the possi- 

 bility of designating such natural areas on lumber company land should be ex- 

 plored. Singletary Lake studied by Frey (1953) is protected within Singletary 

 Lake State Park. Jerome Bog described by Buell ( 1946a, b), near the hamlet of 

 Jerome, is unprotected. 



