of longleaf pine. Although scattered pocosin shrubs do occur (bitter 

 gallberry is particularly evident), the shrub layer is open and low, 

 dominated by sand myrtle ( Leiophyllun buxifolius ) . The ground layer, 

 as in the preceding conmunity, consists of creeping blueberry and wire- 

 grass. 



This area is drier that the pine/shrub "savannah" discussed above, 

 with far fewer herbaceous species occurring here; in addition, scrub 

 live oak ( Ouercus [ jeninata ) occassional!;^ assur.es importance as a low 

 subcanopy or tall shrubby species in the drier portions of this com- 

 munity. In one small area, sand myrtle is largely replaced by wax 

 myrtle ( Kyrica cerifera ) in forming the low shrub layer. 



c) Pine/oak flats. Pinus palustris/Quercus Teninata/Aristida stricta . 

 Here again the open canopy layer is dominated by longleaf pine, but 

 in conjunction with an open subcanopy layer consisting of scrub live 

 oak in the relatively moist areas of this co:n~unity, and a scrub live 

 oak — turkey oak mixture in the drier, more upland areas. The herbaceous 

 layer was very open, having a cover — almost exclusively— of wiregrass. 



It should be reemphasized that almost every possible inter,~radation 

 between the various flatwood communities discuGsed may be located, as well 

 as intergrades between these community types and adjacent pocosin or "sand- 

 '' hill" community types, because edaphic, topographic, and hydrologic proper- 

 ties, and hence their reflection in vegetational communities present, 

 change along a continuum, rather thaji discretely, in most instances. 



^) Disturbed "communities." Pinus spp. /Hyrica c er if era/An dropogon virginicus . 

 A relatively characteristic assemblage of species exists in the extensively 

 disturbed (usually clearcut) areas. The canopy, if developed, typically 

 consists of either loblolly ( Pinus taeda ) or longleaf pine, characteristi- 

 cally occurring with a scattered shrub layer of wax myrtle, and an herbaceou* 

 cover of broorasedge ( An dropogon virginicus ) . Groundsel-shrub ( Bacchar: a 

 halimifolia ) and dog-fennel ( Eupatorium capillifolium ) are other common 

 weedy species in these areas. 



5) Pond communities. The doline ponds occurring within the Boiling Springs 

 Lakes area, assumed to have been formed as a result of subsurface solution 

 of the underlying Castle Hayne Limestone, with consequent surface slump- 

 ing , have as discussed undergone a great deal of disturbance. With 

 regard to those 'sinks" that do exist in relatively undisturbed condition 

 from a vegetation standpoint, it would be impossible to go into a lengthy 

 discussion of vegetational sonation and plant succession without benefit 

 of a systemg,tic collection of such areas, as well as the taking of other 

 pertinent data. However, a list of characteristic species present in the 

 pond rim areas is presented in the appended Species Flora List, and a num- 

 ber of general observations about the doMne ponds in the Boiling Springs 

 Lakes area follow. 



a) The ponds occur primarily within the upland (longleaf pine "sandhills" 

 community type) pine areas, and occassionally in the drier portions of 

 the pine flatv;ood comnunities discussed, 



b) The ponds of the Boiling Springs Lakes area are all clear water (as 

 opposed to blackwater) ponds, with v;hite sandy bottoms, and with no 

 natural drainage into the pools from ad-'acent pocosin areas. 



2 

 '.Nfheeler, W.H. 1979. Personal com::iunication. Dept. of Geology, DNC-CH, 



Chapel Hill, N.C. 



85 



