flora indicated a number of species present, honeybells 

 ( Zen obi a pulverulenta ) appeared to be most abundant. This 

 species forms a dense shrub layer over about 80% of the 

 pocosin. Scattered with honeybells is fetterbush ( Lyonia 

 lucida ) , bitter gallberry ( Ilex glabra ) , a blueberry 

 ( Vaccinium sp.) , chokecherry ( Sorbus arbutifolia ) , and 

 dwarfed red bay ( Persea borbonia ) . Throughout the site 

 numerous pond pine seedlings about one foot tall are present. 



Laurel-leaved greenbriar ( Smilax laurifolia ) is a common 

 vine in the shrub layer but has not yet developed the inpene- 

 trable tangle characteristic of many burned pocosins. The herb 

 layer is poorly developed. In the more open areas, Virginia 

 chain fern ( Woodwardia virginica ) forms dense colonies. It 

 is also present in smaller numbers under the denser shrub 

 layers. In some openings with standing surface water, a 

 sedge ( Carex walteriana ) is present in small patches. 



Some portions of the pocosin are dominated in the shrub 

 zone by dense patches of giant cane ( Arundinaria gigantea ) . 

 Cane is usually associated with shallow peats or peaty mineral 

 soils so it is assumed that these patches are correlated with 

 shallow peat or where there is a significant mineral component 

 in the soil. 



The community type of the pocosin can be classified as 

 dead Pinus serotina trunks/ Zenobia pulverulenta- mixed pocosin 

 shrubs or Arundinaria gigantea (dead pond pine trunks/honey- 

 bells-mixed pocosin shrubs or giant cane; CT 1) . The giant 

 cane-dominated areas are relatively minor in extent (20%) 

 and are not separated out in the vegetation mapping. The 

 other pocosin vegetation types are also not mapped. 



The natural area boundary extends to the New Lake Fork of 

 the Alligator River. This northern section of the natural area 

 is inaccessible except by boat and time constraints prevented a 

 field survey. Aerial reconnaissance and review of aerial photo- 

 graphy indicates that the pocosin vegetation described above is 

 gradually replaced by swamp forest along New Lake Fork. A zone 

 dominated by what appears to be swamp blackgum ( Nyssa sylvatica 

 var. biflora ) , red maple ( Acer rub rum ) , and some baldcypress 

 ( Taxodium distichum ) is present. 



The extent of fire damage to the swamp forest section is 

 unknown. Dense smoke in the vicinity during our aerial recon- 

 naissance prevented a close inspection of the swamp forest. 



The entire natural area is underlain by shallow to moderately 

 deep peats (Ingram and Otte, 1982). Peat depths vary from 0-8 

 feet. Generally the deeper peats (6-8 feet) extend NE-SW across 



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