Hercules'-club, yaupon, cherry laurel ( Prunus caroliniana ) , and 

 other tall shrub species, supporting a dense liana layer, is 

 characteristic. An herbaceous layer is often completely lacking 

 due to the dense shade of the canopy and subcanopy layers; how- 

 ever, where present, the groundcover is generally either poison 

 ivy ( Rhus radicans ) or partridge berry ( Mitchella repens )» This 

 community is best developed on the northeast portion of Bald 

 Head Island, 



C, Pleistocene Sand Ridge Communities 



The mainland sand ridge vegetation of the county, dominated 

 by longleaf pine, occurs on Pleistocene ridges of various ages, 

 which represent the barrier dune complexes of former sea level 

 positions. Soils are chiefly Psaraments, As with other pine-domi- 

 nated communities within the county, the vegetation here is fire 

 maintained (pyroseral) under natural conditions. These are the 

 most xeric of the county's mainland vegetation communities, 



1, Coastal Scrub Forest: 



Occurring on the most recent barrier ridge system of the 

 Brunswick County mainland (the Myrtle Barrier of Dubar et al. 

 (1976)), this community typically has an open longleaf pine 

 canopy over a subcanopy of mixed xeric oaks, and especially 

 scrub live oak ( Quercus geminata ) , which may dominate in exten- 

 sive patches. Large areas of bare white sand are common, but 

 wire-grass, sand spikemoss ( Selaginella arenicola ) , 

 ( Stipulicida setacea ) , and various lichens are usually abundant. 

 Characteristic soils are Typic Udipsamments, 



The best intact examples of coastal scrub forest occur 

 south of highway US 17, between Lockwood's Folly and Shallotte 

 Inlets, 



2, Sandhills Associes (Upland Pine Forest): 



A longleaf pine/turkey oak ( Quercus laevis )/wire-grass com- 

 munity type is the classic example of this vegetation category, 

 and is characteristic for Brunswick County, although a longleaf 

 pine canopy over mixed oaks — including bluejack oak ( Quercus 

 incana ) , turkey oak, dwarf post oak (£, margaretta ) , and black- 

 jack oak (Q. marilandica ) — is also quite common. Typic to Spodic 



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