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parts of the swamp were reached. Logging increased the threat of 

 fire by promoting shrub growth so the present vegetation has 

 probably developed in response to both logging and fire. Since all 

 of the pocosins in North Carolina have been similarly exploited, 

 our present concept of pocosins probably does not correspond very 

 well with their appearance prior to man's large scale intervention. 

 The part of the pocosin in Tyrrell County with its large (18 to 24 

 inches DBH) bald cypress trees probably represents the closest 

 approximation to undisturbed pocosin that can be found in the 

 state. Every effort should be made to preserve this tract. 



The pocosins that occupy broad upland flats are thought to 

 represent drainage basins that have become clogged with vegetation. 

 There are few streams and any artificial drainage by canals changes 

 water patterns to the extent that even those streams lose their 

 flow and cease to exist. To our knowledge, no other pocosin in the 

 state contains a natural stream that is so well developed as the 

 Southwest Fork of the Alligator River. This stream is large enough 

 to be traveled by canoe for its entire distance of about 9 miles. 

 Winter travel is recommended unless you are collecting snakes. In 

 addition to mere presence, this stream and the Northwest Fork of 

 the Alligator River have some interesting vegetational features . 

 The Southwest Fork contains a large stretch of open shrub marsh 

 (point 2, Figure 5) composed of leatherwood and Zenobia while the 

 Northwest Fork (point 3, Figure 5) is part of a very unusual 

 ecotone. On the east side of this stream there is swamp forest 

 while on the west side there is pocosin. Such a situation offers 

 an excellent opportunity for a comparitive study of the factors 

 that support the formation of each community type. 



A relatively small section of swamp forest (Community Type B) 

 on Map 5 has been included in this natural area. Even though this 

 forest was cut within the last 15 to 20 years, the loggers left 

 behind some huge bald cypress trees. Most have their tops blown 

 out and they look like giant stumps with only a few scraggly 

 branches. Some trees exceed 5 feet in diameter. These trees are 

 either rotten in the middle or the loggers did not have large 

 enough saws to cut them down. Whichever, the area should be more 

 thoroughly searched with the chance of finding a tree of state 

 record size. 



24. A. Natural Characteristics Summary Community Type A (See Figure 5): 



a. Vegetation-Biotic Community Summary 



Community type: Pinus serotina/Zenobia pulverulenta-Cyrilla 



racemif lora/Woodwardia virginica-Sphagnum spp 



Community cover type : 



Pinus serotina 



General habitat feature: Pocosin 



Average tree height: From 15 to 45 feet 

 depending on area 



