ov'idenced by tho clur.ped .^rrar.~c: nt of • r.o oi.k trunks and of aany of 

 the shrub species stems, and by the char-o ' rer:-iin5 cf nany stunrs, 

 including; several lar'^e cypress stumps v/ithin the pond, 6 or ? n in 

 fror. shore. 



Little Blue "-ond : 



An acconpanyin^j sketch of species presence, as v/ell as species 

 ::onation and cor.T.mity distribution, is provided for the tv/o pools at 

 Little Blue Tond. Species asser.blaj^es in the two pools, sepcrated by . 

 only 5 or ' rn during this period of low v;ater in the pond (down an 

 estimated 6l cm (2'r in.) from the seasonal hir;h water table), was 

 strikingly different. 



Black Pond : '\ ' 



A rough sketch of species distribution in and around T;lacl; Pond 

 is provided, although it was discovered so late in the course of the 

 field work, and its rim area proved to be so inpenetrable as to hinder 

 access to the interior, that it was not sampled. I\ather, iz v;as simply 

 visited, with field notes made of the vegetaticnal communities present. 



Physical description: 



General description — 



1) Blue Fond is bordered by a series of hills and sandy ridges 

 v/hich support either an upland longleaf pine or upland oak — 

 hickory community, while live oak — loblolly pine flats brrder 

 the NS and SW portions of the pond rim. 



2) Little Blue Pond lies on the western slope of a ir.;-3E trend- 

 ing ridge, and is entirely surrounded by a longleaf pine sand- 

 hills type community. 



5) Black Pond lies near the surimit on the 'i side of a V.Z-Z,.: 

 trending ridge, and is bordered or. all sides by a Icnglcaf 

 "ino sandhills cor.munity type. 



Topography--The Blue Pond complex consists of four (Little Blue 

 Pond is m.ade up of tv.'o pools which are joined in ti-.es of 

 high v/ater) irregularly shaped, shallow depressions with gently 

 sloping v/alls, v;hich a.re thought to be doline ponds resulting 

 from subsurface solution of the underlying Castle P^ayne Lime- 

 stone and subsequent slum.ping of the surface area above the sol- 

 ution, cavity , ■Ti>,g ponds are each surrounded by a series of 

 m.ostly PL-3',,' trending, moderately sloping sandy ridges. 



Geology — The surficial sediments are marine-deposited sands and 



clays of the Pamlico Terrace of "-Pleistocene age, overlying the 

 Castle Hayne Limestone of Eocene age. 



Pare plants and animals; 



Litsea aestivalis (Pondspice): Endangered peripheral. The Blue Pond 

 site comprises a huge population of pondspice — possiblj' the largest 

 in Porth Carolrna — of 200 to 500 individuals. The population is 

 extremely robust, and healthy, with individual r.lants ranging in 

 height froTi 2 to 6m, and m.ost m.atur3 individuals heavily fruited. 

 Seedling reproduction in the area apnears to be excellent. 



The Little Blue Pond population of pondspice cotains several 

 doztn smaller, but healthy individuals. 



70 



