420 



NATURALIST'S GUIDE TO THE AMERICAS 



the growth formerly consisting largely 

 of longleaf pine, later supplanted by the 

 shortleaf and scrub pines. 



e. Piedmont Plateau. This region 

 consists of that part of the state region 

 spoken of as the up-country. It has a 

 mean elevation of 400 to 800 ft. above 

 sea level. Three varieties of soils 

 exist, namely, granite, clay slate and 

 trappean. The rocks of the upper part 

 of this region belong to the Laurentian 

 and Huronian formations; gneiss, gran- 

 ite, mica, talc, and clay slates are also 

 found here. 



The Piedmont Plateau has somewhat 

 lower temperatures and shorter seasons 

 than those prevailing in the Coastal 

 Plain regions immediately to the south. 



As to the flora: The original growth 

 has disappeared, and is supplanted by 

 the characteristic growth of the short- 

 leaf pine with hickories and large varie- 

 ties of oaks. 



/. The Mountain Region. This region 

 continuing the Blue Ridge of North 

 Carolina, consists of a narrow strip 

 in the extreme northwestern part of the 

 state. It has an elevation from 500 to 

 3430 ft. above sea level. The soils are 

 similar to those in other parts of the 

 state which are formed from the decom- 

 position of gneiss rock." The level 

 uplands consist of sandy loam, the hill 

 sides, of red clay and the bottom lands 

 of dark loam, containing an abundance 

 of lime and potash. 



This region has a mean temperature 

 corresponding with that of New Jersey 

 and Kansas, but very different extremes. 

 The mountainous portion, however, 

 has a mean temperature corresponding 

 with the lower lake region. This region 

 is exempt from destructive storms. 

 The annual rainfall is over 60 in. which 

 places this region among those having 

 the heaviest precipitation in the United 

 States. 



As to the flora: Shortleaf pine, cucum- 

 ber tree, mountain laurel, white pine 

 and scrub pine were formerly common. 

 Ginseng {Panax quinquefolea) and snake 

 root {Cimicifuga racemosa) as well as 

 other herbs thrived in abundance. 



It is claimed that the Indians in former 

 years earned their living by collecting 

 and disposing of these medicinal herbs. 



II. PRESENT BIOTA 



/. Flora 



Most of the large timber has been 

 removed throughout the entire state. 

 There are still, however, some large 

 specimens of live oaks with the beautiful 

 festoons of hanging moss, in the coastal 

 region. These oaks are often found 

 in groups, in some cases presumably 

 having been planted by the early 

 settlers. 



The palmetto still abounds on the sea 

 islands though not as abundant as 

 formerly. Myrtles and vines of various 

 sorts still thrive in some spots on the 

 islands. 



The longleaf pine has been largely 

 supplanted by the shortleaf and loblolly 

 pine. However, even the latter are 

 fast being destroj'ed by the ax followed 

 often by destructive fires which kills 

 all the undergrowth. 



Young forests of longleaf pine are 

 springing up here and there in the sand 

 hills and if protected will in time, replace 

 to some extent, the former magnificent 

 growth of these trees. 



Many species of grasses abound in the 

 state. Panicum is especially well rep- 

 resented in the coastal region. About 

 50 species have been collected in the 

 state. Water millet {Zizaniopsis milia- 

 cea) grows to a large size and clumps 

 in marshy places along the coast. Sea 

 oats {Uniola paniculata) is common 

 on the sand dunes on the coast. Ber- 

 muda grass {Cynodon Dactylon) and 

 crab grass {Digitaria sanguinalis) thrive 

 well and are largely used for hay. De- 

 structive fires often ravish open woods 

 and uncultivated fields thereby destroy- 

 ing all vegetation. 



f . Fauna 



The beaver and cougar have been 

 extinct for some time. A color variety 

 of the black bear, known as little brown 

 bear, is common in the swamps of the 



