due to historical and continued, present-day development. The 

 , mineral soils respond well to conversion efforts, with minimal 

 improvement, chiefly, drainage, necessary for agricultural or 

 silyicultural utilization. Consequently, flatwoods have been 

 converted from natural forest to alternative usages almost whole- 

 sale. In addition, with the advent of modern fire protection, 

 extensive or frequent burning of these areas has largely been 

 prevented, or at least, curtailed, and "natural" succession has 

 resulted in loss of much of this unique habitat and associated 

 species. As a result, good examples of the flatwood community 

 are scattered and are generally small. For these reasons-- 

 coupled with the relatively large number of threatened and endan- 

 gered species associated with pine flatwoods — a special effort 

 was made to identify and reconnoiter all flatwood areas within 

 ' the county. 



III. TERRESTRIAL PLANT COMMUNITIES 



A. Barrier Island Beach Communities 



These communities are present to a greater or lesser extent 

 on all of the county's barrier islands, but are best developed and 

 much more extensive within the Smith Island complex. 



1, Dune Ridge Consocies: 



The dune ridge consocies, which in Brunswick County is almost 

 exclusively dominated by sea oats ( Uniola paniculata ) — hence, 

 consocies — occurs on active dune fields of present-day barrier 

 '' • islands. Soils are essentially unconsolidated piles of shifting, 

 ' windblown sandy sediments. The broadest active dune system 



within the county, and possibly within the state, up to 730 meters 

 (800 yards) wide and 12 meters (^0 feet) high, occurs on Bald 

 Head Island (Parnell and Adams 1971). 



2, Swale and Flat Associes: 



This association is closely relateci to the dune ridge con- 

 socies and perhaps better treated as a sub-unit of it. The com- 

 munity occurs on interdunal basins and in the ecotone between 

 • -■■ salt marsh/flat areas and dune fields. The heterogeneous vege- 



tational assemblage includes both shrubs and herbs, and is 



