cover. Other common ground cover species include various 

 sedges ( Carex spp.) and netted chain fern. The gum stands 

 are also apparently influenced to some degree by minor and 

 infrequent depositions of suspended silt, deposited during 

 periods of overbank flooding along the channels. Occasional 

 water tupelo ( Nyssa aguatica ) trees occur along the silty 

 banks of the channels but these are not extensive enough 

 to warrant community type designation. 



Along the Albemarle Sound shoreline a distinctive band 

 of small to medium sized baldcypress, 30-50 feet high and 

 with dbh's of less than 14 inches is present. This bald 

 cypress fringe extends out into the shallow waters of the 

 sound and are a graphic indication of the rising sea level. 

 This is a minor community within the natural area and is 

 not included in the biotic summary. 



Another minor community which deserves mention is the 

 Atlantic white cedar-dominated stands which occur primarily 

 along the margin of the valley wall or floodplain escarpment 

 (southeastern edge of the natural area) . These monospecific 

 stands are composed of dense, closed stands of cedar 20-50 

 feet tall which are usually even-aged. A mixture of shrubs 

 such as fetterbush and redbay is present underneath. These 

 cedar stands occur over peat containing a mixture of sandy 

 mineral soil washed in from the adjacent uplands. 



The communities described up to now represent forested 

 palustrine or riverine wetland systems associated with deep 

 peat or interbedded inorganic muds and peat. Another plant 

 community, dissimilar from the others occurs along the margins 

 of Conaby Creek and the Roanoke River. A submerged, aquatic 

 community dominated by aquatic plants is present. Floating 

 mats of cow-lily ( Nuphar luteum var. luteum ) and fragrant 

 water-lily ( Nymphaea odorata ) are associated with other 

 aquatic species such as bladderwarts ( Utricularia spp.) and 

 water-milfoils ( Myriophyllum spp.). This community is in 

 shallow, sheltered coves and backwaters along the channel 

 margins. 



The entire natural area is essentially flat. Elevation 

 ranges from sea level along the waterways to 5 feet along the 

 floodplain margin. There are no subaerial topographic land- 

 forms such as sand ridges present in the natural area. A 

 mantle of organic sediments essentially covers the natural 

 area from the channel margins inward to the valley wall. 

 These organic soils are mapped as the Dorovan series: dysic, 

 thermic Typic Medisaprists (SCS, 1981). These soils are 

 characterized by an organic surface layer 51 to greater than 

 91 inches thick over unconsolidated fluvial inorganic sedi- 

 ments. The peat has a mineral content of 5 to 20%. 



99 



