successional state of the area. Each of the remaining families represented 
4 percent or less of the total flora. 
Among the species collected, Radford, Ahles, and Bell (1968) listed 
three as infrequent and three as _ rare. The infrequent plants were 
[tlaeopsts carolinensts and Eupatorium serotinum. The rare species were 
Eragrostis elltottit, Ltilaeopsts chinensis, and Ammophila  brevtiltgulata. 
The A. brevilitgulata was locally abundant due to plantings. Lontcera 
japonica var. chtnensts is a rare escaped cultivar not yet reported natu- 
ralized in North Carolina. 
Levy (1976) frequently cites Myrica pensylvanica as being an important 
component of the study area's flora. An intensive search was conducted 
throughout the FRF; however no specimens were found. In areas north of the 
FRF, MM. pensylvanica populations were observed during this study to be 
undergoing replacement by M. certfera and Prunus serottnad. It is possible 
that specimens of M. pensylvantca were collected and identified by Levy 
(1976) who assumed all existing Myrtca specimens were of this species. 
Subsequently, M. pensylvanica may have died out on this site. 
It is important to note that this genus has long had taxonomic problems 
and species separation depends upon characteristics which are subject to 
variation caused by environmental extremes. Many authors (e.g., Radford, 
Ahles and Bell, 1968) recognize a third species, M, heterophylla, which is 
considered a hybrid between M. pensylvanica and M. certferd. The resulting 
hybrid is named differently by others (Fernald, 1950). The correct 
designation of the Myrica growing in the study area is therefore open to 
question. An intensive evaluation of this technical question is beyond the 
scope of this study, although current thought strongly suggests that the 
correct designation is most likely M. certfera. 
2. Vegetational Studies. 
The plant communities at the Field Research Facility exist in their 
present condition because of the natural environmental forces characteristic 
of the Outer Banks and a long history of manmade disturbances, some of which 
are common to the Outer Banks in general. Others are unique to this site, 
e.g., its previous use as an aircraft bombing range from 1941 to 1965 and 
fertilization of the study area during the springs of 1979, 1980, and 1981. 
Fertilization was conducted on inhouse dune stabilization experimental 
plantings of Panicum amarum and the low dune grass communities. These 
plantings were made in an area designated by Levy (1976) as planted American 
beachgrass. One impact of the planting and fertilization was the replace- 
ment of the previously existing community by P. amarum. Since no plant 
species were studied before nor during the fertilization of 32 to 36 
hectares (80 to 90 acres) at the FRF from 1979 to 1981, the direct impact of 
the fertilization cannot be ascertained. 
In this study, Levy's (1976) original designations of permanent 
quadrats were maintained for continuity. The above-described treatment, as 
well as plant successional processes, has produced vegetational changes 
within the permanent quadrats which in some cases now contain vegetation 
entirely different from that which existed during Levy's (1976) study. 
29 
