an extensive period of time. 

 Vesetation and plant communities: 



The Big Island Savannah Natural Area is characterized by two princi- 

 pal plant connunities, presumably due to the differences in depth to the 

 soil water table associated with different soil types, and thus edaphic 

 properties. A longleaf pine savannah community dominates the r.ajority of 

 the area in two separate plots, which are separated by and each bordered 

 on three sides by a pond pine ( Pinus serotina ) pocosin. 



A discussion of the community types follows: 



1) Longleaf pine savannah, Pinus palustris/AriJlda stricta — Mixed herbs- 

 The very open canopy of this area is dor:inated exclusively by longleaf 

 pine. ^iTiile no cubcanopy or shrub layer is present, characteristic 

 pocosin shrubs, such as sweet bay ( Ma^rnolia virginiana ) and red bay 



( Pe r - e a borbonia ) occur as scattered individuals fron rootsprouts. 

 The herb layer comprises a mixture .of wiregrass ( Aristida strict^ ) , 

 orange grass ( Gteniurn aromaticum ) , and other perennial grar.inoids and 

 forbs too varied and too numerous to mention (see accompanying Flora 

 Species List). It is as V/ells (1932) so adequately expressed: "(here) 

 Nature attains. . .her fullest, and most varied expression of loveliness 

 in the form of wild flowers." From late winter until late fall, a 

 continuous progression of bright and varied colors unfolds across the 

 savannah, bordered by the deep greens of the pocosin shrubs, rendering 

 this one of the most purely beautiful natural areas imaginable from an 

 aesthetic point of view. 



At vaj-ious locations within the savanjiah community, usually in 

 areas proximal to the savannah — pocosin ecotone, the mixed graminoids 

 groundcover is somev.'hat displaced by giant cane ( .Arundinaria gigantea ), 

 v/hich assumes dominance or codominance of the herbaceous layer. 



2) Pond pine pocosin. Pinus serotina/ Mixed evergreen shrubs/ /3~ila:-: 

 laurif olia . The open canopy of this area is dominated by pond pine, 

 with an occasional pond cypress ( Taxodium ascendens ) or black gum 

 ( I'yssa sylvatica var. biflora) occurring as a canopy-sized tree. Scat- 

 tered Atlantic white cedar rChamaecyparis thycides ) , loblolly bay 



( Gor donia lasianthus ) , and large transgressive red maples ( Acer rubrum ) 

 occur as a higlily localized subcanopy layer. The very dense shrub layer 

 is dominated by titi ( Cyrilla racenif lora ) and stag;:erbush (Lyonia 

 I'-.cida ) in association with other char' cteristic evergreen pocosin shrub 

 species, with the deciduous white alder ( Clethra alnifolia ) occurring 

 along the margins of the pocosin. The dense undergrowth is "tied 

 to-ether" by a ta.n~ling growth of laurel-leaved sav.'briar (Smila:-; 



laurif olia ) ^ forming a nearly inpenetrable thicket. Few herbs can 

 successfully compete with the evergreen pocosin shrubs for the limited 

 resources available, at least for any extensive period of time, and 

 few herbs were noted. An exception v;as one or more of the species of 

 pitcher plant ( Carraccnia sp.), which were found within the pocosin 

 community, and are known to sometimes exist for many years as suppressed 

 individuals in pocosin aroas fiat once existed as open shrub bogs or 

 as wet savannah areas prior to the institution of a large degree of 

 fire protection. 



Physical features: 



General description — The Big Island Savannah lies in an extensive flat, 

 poorly-drained portion of the Green Swamp, and is thus relatively 

 wet for much of the year. 



51 



