of the cypress appeared to be fairly tall (+70 feet) and flat- 

 topped, indicating a mature or climax condition. The white 

 cedar appeared to be young to medium growth (10-40 feet tall) . 

 Most of the white cedar of the island is located in the Jack's 

 Creek area. Some of the white cedar stands appear to be dense 

 enough to be considered a monospecific community and are clas- 

 sified as Chamaecyparis thyoides (Atlantic white cedar; CT 2) . 



The combined acreage of the swamp forest vegetation is 

 estimated to be about 800-1000 acres. Most of this area was 

 probably originally dominated by a greater proportion of bald- 

 cypress, swamp blackgum, and white cedar. Today, most of the 

 timber is composed of red maple, sweetgum, and loblolly pine, 

 species which assumed dominance when the more valuable timber 

 species were cut out. 



The vegetation association most prominent on the island, 

 and the least disturbed by past logging activities , is the 

 pond pine-dominated wetlands. Most of the island interior 

 is dominated by this association (about 7200 acres) . 



This association is characterized by open stands of pond 

 pine, some of which reach 80 feet in height and have dbh's of 

 12-14 inches. These older-growth stands are composed of flat- 

 top pines and represent the least disturbed forest community 

 on the island. 



The understory vegetation is somewhat variable , both 

 structurally and in species composition. Based on our ground 

 observations along a transect adjacent to a canal (see map) , 

 the understory is composed of a dense tall shrub layer of red 

 maple, redbay, and some sweetbay. This layer ranges from 20- 

 40 feet tall. Underneath is a dense low shrub (2-20 feet) 

 layer dominated by smaller redbay, fetterbush ( Lyonia lucida ) , 

 sweet gallberry ( Ilex coriacea ) , and locally, giant cane 

 ( Arundinaria gigantea ) . Virginia chain fern ( Woodwardia 

 virginica ) is common as a ground cover over much of the area, 

 and is particularly abundant in openings or in disturbed cut- 

 over sections . The lower shrub layer is covered by very dense , 

 impenetrable tangles of laurel-leaved greenbriar ( Smilax lauri- 

 folia) . 



Scattered amongst the flattop pond pines are a few old- 

 growth baldcypress which are about the same size. These cypress 

 are probably "cull" trees left by past timber operations because 

 of various imperfections. 



Based on our aerial observations, the open pond pine stands 

 are quite extensive in the island's interior. In some areas red 



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