9. Site Description: 



Long Bays Savannah represents one of few remaining extensive 

 longleaf pine ( Pinus palustria ) « sandy soil savannah sites in the 

 area. Though soils here are sandy throughout the profile, an under- 

 lying spodic horizon perches the water table, making this a much 

 wetter site than soil texture alone would indicate it to be. 



Canopy pines here are laa^ge in comparison with most savannah 

 sites in the county, though DBH's were not measured. Although 

 abundant evidence of past frequent fires is present, fire has been 

 excluded from the site for several years, resulting in the growth 

 of an open, mixed shrub layer, consisting of most of the "typical" 

 evergreen and ericaceous "bay" shrub species (see 'Preliminary Field 

 Reconnaissance Data Summary Sheet" species list). This shrub layer 

 stands at approximately 1 to 1,5 meters in height. The "herbaceous" 

 layer dominants are creeping blueberry ( Vaccinium crassifolium ) 

 and wire-grass ( Aristida stricta ) , 



The savannah site is essentially bordered on all sides by pond 

 pine (P, serotina ) pocosin, within a series of Carolina bays and 

 connecting drainages. The boundary between pocosin and savannah 

 tends to be rather abrupt, rather than ecotonal (gradual), in nature, 

 although the latter situation is the usual case within the area. 



