9. Site Description: 



The Waccamaw Island Savannah is an extremely diverse savannah 

 site in terms of available microhabitats, ajid consequently, in terms 

 of plant species richness. This is true due largely to the fact that 

 the savannaJi occurs on a fluvial "island" within the swamp forest 

 adjacent to the Waccamaw River, and exemplifies the ridge and swale 

 topography typical of the area. Though the canopy dominant is longleaf 

 pine ( Pinus palustris ) throughout, the herb and shrub species assemblages 

 range from very mesic associations on the clay soils of the swales to 

 semi-xeric ones on the sandier ridge soils, with obvious and interesting 

 zonation of some species resulting. 



The site community type is open Pinus palustr is/ Mixed herbs, with 

 shrub and tranagressive tree species occurring sporadically. In the 

 swale areas, the herbaceous flora is extremely variable, consisting of 

 a mixture of wire-grass ( Aristida stricta ) aind a varied array of forba, 

 including large populations of several insectivorous species, such as 

 Venus* flytrap ( Dionaea muscipula ) and pitcher plants ( Sarracenia spp.). 

 The drier ridge (essentially, eastern) portion of the island exhibits 

 a decrease in herbaceous diversity, and a mixture of wire-grstss and 

 pine-woods beard tongue ( Penstemon australis ) predoainates (at least 

 vernally). 



As noted, the island is surrounded by swamp forest, here largely 

 dominated by swamp black gum ( Nyssa sylvatica var. biflora ) , with pond 

 cypress ( Taxodium ascendens ) and Atlantic white cedar ( Chamaecyparis 

 thyoides ) being of some importsmce. Swamp willow (Salix caroliniana) 

 is abuncfant along the boundary of the swamp forest community with 

 the island savannah. 



Within the savannah itself, the scattered pines of the canopy are 

 relatively mature, as indicated by the frequency of flat-top trees. 

 Evidences of frequent past fires are abundant at the site, which was 

 burned this spring (I98I) as well. 



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