lily ( Nymphaea odorata ) , duckvjeed ( Lemna spp.), water fern ( Azolla 

 caroliniana ) , and other tiny aquatic species, although exceptions do 

 occur (e.g., Orton Pond), ; , 



B. Riverine /Est uari ne C ommunity 



Riverine and estuarine comnunities within the county have suffered 

 greatly in recent decades due to development and fill, siltation, and 

 pollution. No good examples of "msLrsh" aquatic oommunities with such 

 characteristic species as pondweed ( Potamogeton spp.), widgeon grass 

 ( Ruppia maritima ) , and water nymph ( Najas guadalupensis ) are known 

 presently. However, Eagle Island, prior to extensive disturbance by 

 the N. C. Department of Transportation and U. S. Army Corps of 

 Engineers, was an excellent place to collect aquatic species (fide 

 A. E. Radford), 



II. .'ZETLAND PLANT COIiHUNITIES 



V/etland habitat has been divided into five vegetation types. Of 

 these types it is the bay forest and lowland pine communities which con- 

 stitute the majority of the county's mainland vegetative cover. Aside 

 from present-day (Holocene) formations, such as the coastal island back- 

 barrier flats and river floodplains, wetland communities are largely lim- 

 ited to four Pleistocene geomorphic surface features—the Green Swamp Shoal, 

 backbarrier flats of the "Canepatch" sea, backbarrier flats of the 

 "Socastee" sea, and Carolina bays (geomorphic landforms within the county 

 interpreted from Dubar et al, 1976). 



A. Pond Margin Community 



These are essentially the transition areas between the deep- 

 water portions of limesinks and other ponds, and the surrounding 

 upland communities. If a canopy layer is present, pond cypress 

 ( Taxodium ascendens ) is the characteristic dominant species, with 

 swamp black gum ( Nyssa sylvatica var. biflora ) of lesser importance. 

 Associated shrub and herb assemblages are diverse and quite variable, 

 too numerous to list here (Dumond (1979) treats this subject in some 

 detail). Soils are usually Haplaquods, but occasionally are Quartzi- 

 psamments or Humaquepts. 



B. Marshland Communities 



