are again Typic Sulfaquents and Typic Psammaquents. 



Within the upper, less haline portions of the estuaries and 

 on many of the associated tidal creeks, the marshes are more 

 diverse, largely dominated by cattail ( Typha spp.), giant cord- 

 grass ( Spartina cynosuroides ) , and saw grass ( Cladium jamaicense ) , 

 singly, or in combination, with wild rice ( Ziaania aguatica ) 

 occurring in widely scattered stands. Typic Medisaprists and 

 Typic Psammaquents predominate among soil types, 



C, Swamp Forest Community 



Swamp forests border the county's blackwater rivers and their 

 tributaries, on floodplains whose size is generally proportional to 

 the size of the stream. Due to their fluvial ( depositional ) nature, 

 soils throughout the community are highly variable, ranging from 

 Typic Medisaprists to Humaquepts to Typic Ochraquults. Swamp forest 

 tends to intergrade with bay forest in the V/accamaw River—Green 

 Swamp region. 



Mixed bottomland hardwoods usually predominate on the alluvial 

 flats, typically consisting of a. mixture, in varying proportions, of 

 red maple ( Acer rubrum ) , sweetgum ( Liquidambar styraciflua ) , swamp 

 black gum, ash ( Fraxinus spp.), and cypress ( Taxodium spp,). Cypress 

 may be an integral component of the canopy, or emergent over it. A 

 subcanopy layer of transgressive species is generally present. 

 Although the dense shade of the canopy and subcanopy layers often 

 precludes the occurrence of a shrub or herb layer except along stream 

 margins or other openings, many exceptions occur. Dwarf palmetto 

 (Sabal minor ) is occasionally found in dense stands, and mixed herbs, 

 such as false nettle ( Boehmeria cylindriea ) , violets ( Viola spp,), 

 sedges ( Carex spp.), and ferns may literally carpet the ground. In 

 somewhat better drained areas, especially in the ecotone between swamp 

 forest and surrounding uplands, bottomland laurel oak (Quercus 

 hemisphaerica ) and, occasionally, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda ) may 

 assume some importance among canopy species. 



The most extensive stands of mixed bottomland hardwoods within 

 the county occur along the Gape Fear River in northern Brunswick 

 County, while the "best" stajids from a lack of disturbance point of 



