Common sub-canopy or shrub stratum species in community cover or 

 community type (but not dominant) : None 



Common herb stratum species in community cover or community type 

 (but not dominant) : Amorpha herbacea , Pteridium aquilinum , 

 Chrysopsis graminifolia , Pterocaulon pycnostachyum 



24B. Soil Summary (by community type) 

 Soil series: Mandorin and Alpin 



Soil classification: Mandorin: Fine sand, mixed acidic, humic; Alpin: 

 Fine sand, mixed acidic, thermic, coated typic, quartzpsamments 

 Soil association: Alpin-Mandorin 



pH class: Mandorin: Extremely acid to neutral; Alpin: Extremely 

 acid to neutral 



Moisture class: Mandorin: Somewhat poorly drained; Alpin: Exces- 

 sively drained 



Source of information: Description prepared from site analyses on 

 July 23, 1981 by W, L. Barnhill, Soil Scientist and assisted by John 

 Ray and Jay Milam, Pender County SCS Office. 



Other notes: Barnhill cautioned that the pH readings of 7.0 may have 

 been faulty because of the techniques used during the field anaylses. 

 Slight acidity was expected. 



24C. Hydrology Summary (by community type) 

 Hydrologic system: Terrestrial 



Hydrologic subsystem: Mesic (Mandorin) to Dry-xeric (Alpin) 

 Water chemistry: Fresh 

 Water regime: not applicable 



Drainage class: Somewhat poorly to excessively drained 

 Drainage basin : Northeast Cape Fear River 



Hydrology characterization: Somewhat poorly to excessively drained 

 elevated sand ridge surrounded by poorly drained muck and mucky sands. 



24D. Topography Summary 



Landform: Sand ridge with Carolina Bay rim characteristics 



Shelter: Deeply sheltered 



Aspect: North - South 



Slope angle: Gently sloping (2-6°) 



Profile: Convex 



Surface patterns: Smooth 



Position: Entire slope 



25. Physiographic Characterization of Natural Area: A fire-maintained 

 climax community of a psammosere on an isolated sand ridge in the 

 Holly Shelter Bay. The ridge drains toward the Northeast Cape Fear 

 River and is underlain by Eocene Castle Hayne limestone in the Embayed 

 Section of the Coastal Plain province of the Atlantic Plain region. 

 Geological Formation: Eocene Castle Hayne limestone overlain by 

 Quaternary sands (Renfro and Feray 1978) . 



Geological Formation Age: Eocene formation: 40-50 million yrs; 

 Quaternary sands: 6,000 to 1 million yrs. 



70 



