component of swamp and lowland conifers in the canopy and 

 subcanopy layers and to the density of bay trees and other 

 wetland shrubs in the shrub layers. 



Atlantic white cedar or juniper ( Chamaecyparis thyoides ) 

 and loblolly pine ( Pinus taeda ) join swamp blackgum in the 

 canopy, and often can be considered a co-dominant gymnosperm 

 component of the canopy. The distribution and relative 

 dominance of these two species is much more variable than 

 that of swamp blackgum. Atlantic white cedar particularly 

 has a patchy distribution as a result of both selective and 

 clearcutting operations in many parts of the natural area. 

 In most stands it is a less important co-dominant; in others 

 its dominance locally exceeds that of swamp blackgum. Through- 

 out the natural area in the mature stands , Atlantic white cedar 

 is a medium to large and beautiful tree with a shaggy conical 

 top and long clear trunk. Some individuals reach 24 inches 

 dbh. Loblolly pine is much more scattered in all stands 

 investigated, but often attains comparable diameters and 

 usually exceeds cedar and swamp blackgum in height. The 

 fourth characteristic swamp forest tree is baldcypress 

 ( Taxodium distichum ) . This species is usually present as 

 scattered old-growth, flat-topped, "cull" trees which are 

 often 80-90 feet in height. These old-growth giants are 

 almost invariably deformed specimens of low commercial 

 value left behind from past logging operations. They are 

 usually too scattered to be considered co-dominants in the 

 community but because of their superior height and trunk 

 diameters they are conspicuous members of the swamp forest 

 landscape. The cypress of the natural area do not seen to 

 regenerate readily after cutting. In most swamp forest 

 stands cypress has importance values of 50% or less al- 

 though in a few localized old-growth stands it is a true 

 dominant, sharing the canopy with a few tall loblolly pines, 

 under which swamp blackgum and Atlantic white cedar form a 

 subcanopy layer. 



In addition to the four principal tree species just 

 discussed, several others reach the canopy but are of far 

 less importance. Red maple ( Acer rub rum ) is locally domi- 

 nant where cypress, cedar and swamp gum have been removed 

 or thinned out by logging, but does not attain dominance 

 in stands where the latter species have been less heavily 

 cut or where fewer logging cycles have occurred. Pond 

 pine ( Pinus serotina ) is occasional in the canopy, as are 

 isolated large sweet bays (Magnolia virginiana) . 



18 



