CLIMAX COMMUNITIES : PRESENT DISTRIBUTION 255 



particularly noticeable, and subclimax pine stands are conspicuous 

 (see Figs. 108 and 110). Virginia pine (Finns virginiana) predom- 

 inates in the northern Piedmont, but southward and westward 

 shortleaf (P. echinata) and loblolly pine (P. taeda), usually in pure 

 stands, precede the climax in secondary succession on uplands. 

 Successional trees in lowlands are sweet gum, tulip poplar (Lirio- 



FlG. 127. Scrubby, open oak forest (mostly 0- catesbaei and Q. cinerea) 

 of the southeastern sandhills areas. The open stand and expanses of bare 

 white sand are typical.— Photo by H. L. Blomquist. 



dendron tulipifera), sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), river birch 

 (Betida nigra), red maple, elms (Ulmus spp.), ash (Fraxinus spp.) 

 and hackberry (Celtis spp.). 



Fire and Swamp Subclimaxes of the Coastal Plain— The coastal 

 plain, once covered by the sea, extends from New Jersey down 

 into Florida and along the Gulf to Texas as a low-lying, relatively 

 level area, mostly overlayed with sandy soil. Drainage is poor, re- 

 sulting in much swampy ground, but any raised area between 

 streams is apt to be very dry for a part of each year. The height 

 of the water table during the wet seasons and the amount of fire in 

 dry seasons are fundamental factors in determining the nature of 

 the vegetation. 



From the pitch pine barrens of New Jersey through loblolly 

 pine and longleaf and slash pine in the more southern states, fire 



