though other relatively xeric species of oak n;ay assume greater importance 

 in a few areas. In addition, trans^ressive persinnon ( Diospyros virginiana ) 

 and sassafras ( Sassafras albidun ) trees are coir.nonly scattered throughout 

 this conmunity. The scattered herb layer is doninated solely by three-avm 

 or wiregrass ( Aristida stricta ) » 



Two small areas were noted where the turkey oak subcanopy was absent, 

 and a longleaf pine/ericalean shrub coranunity type predoninated, nanely, a 

 Pinus palustris/Gaylussacia frondosa and a Pinus palustris/Gaylussacia 

 dunosa coranunity. 



These upland con-nunities generally occur over a relatively deep, 

 well-drained sandy soil, and consequently are usually the first areas to 

 b© developed; the majority of the dwellings in the Boiling Springs Lakes 

 subdivision occur within this con~.unity type. Much of the area is vege- 

 tated in third or fourth growth longleaf pines approximately 17.8 cm (7 in.) 

 dbh (dianeter at breast height) and about 55 years in age. However, many 

 areas exist which comprise relatively old second growth longleaf pines, 

 often trees formerly "slashed" for turpentine. These are prime nesting 

 habitat areas for the red-cockaded woodpecker ( Dendrocopus borealis ), and 

 a number of cavity trees were noted within this community type. 



Though evidence of frequent fires in past decades within this connunity 

 are abundant, effects of a period of fire protection, such as very large 

 individual turkey oaks or a thick litter layer, are also very apparent. 

 It is probable that in the continued absence of fire a gradual change 

 toward a more laesic community type will occur in the future. 



3) Pine flatwood corainunities. This area was divided into three distinguishable, 

 but intergrading, vegetational communities, with the species variation 

 largely due to the soil water table relations of the plot. It is believed, 

 based on field observations, that fire plays an extremely important role 

 in the relatively short term, as well as long tern, maintenance of these 

 community types, and that gradual, or oven relatively rapid in some cases, 

 plant succession towards other community types is certain under conditions 

 of continual fire protection. Each of these community types is discussed 

 below, progressing from the wettest to the driest pine flatwood community 

 types. 



a) Pine/shrub "savannah." Pinus palustris /Mixed evergreen shrub s /Vaccinium 

 crassif olium - Arisida stricta . This area could readily be described as 

 either "sparse pocoBin,".or "shrubby savannah." The open canopy here 



is doninated by longleaf pine, with the occurrence in the canopy of 

 occassional pond pines. There is no subcajiopy layer here, though 

 ; loblolly bay ( Gordonia lasianthus ) nay locally assume some importance, 

 presumably in areas with relatively thick orga_nic epipedons. The 

 shrub layer is very open, consisting of scattered individuals 2 to 5^ 

 in height, and dominated by bitter gallberry ( Ilex glabra ) and sweet 

 gallberry (l_. coriacea ) , although most other typical pocosin shrub species 

 are present and may assume codorainance in a given area. The ground is 

 typically carpeted with a creeping blueberry — wiregrass cover, though 

 in one fairly sizable area the wiregrass v.'as almost entirely replaced 

 by a thick layer of rush-featherling (Pleea tenuifolia ) as the dominant 

 herb. 



The primary extent of the pine/shrub "savannah" occurs west of 

 highway MC 87, in an area v;here few streets exist to this point, and 

 no dv/ellings have been constructed. 



b) Pine/sand myrtle flats. Pinus palustris/^eiophyllum buxifoliun / 

 Vaccinium crassifolium — Aristida stricta . The canopy here is very 

 similar to that of the preceding community, consisting almost entirely 



84 



