interpretation will be used in this treatment, and will deal with 

 dunelands, which may be high foredunes, dominated by sea oats, or 

 low rear dunes and overwash flats with a mixture of shrubs, small 

 trees, forbs, or barren spots. One should also keep in mind that 

 as presently delineated, the natural area contains wetland communities 

 comprised of smooth cordgrass, ox-eye, purslane, and other vascular 

 plants as well as sand flats and mud flats which are tidally inundated. 

 A composite community, dominated by waxmyrtle, yaupon, and sea oats 

 is used here as the representative "beach" type, since it occupies a 

 large percentage of the total natural area acreage, and is the community 

 complex most likely to be threatened by activities of people on the 

 islands.) Myrica cer if era - I lex vomitoria / Uniola paniculata 

 Community cover type: Ilex vomitoria 

 General habitat feature: Beach dunes 

 Average canopy height: 6 ft when present 

 Estimated age of canopy trees: Not applicable 

 Canopy cover: Open to closed 

 Estimated size of community: 200 ac 

 Successional stage: Pioneer and Trnasient 

 Sere type: Psammosere 



Common canopy species in community cover or community type (but not 

 dominant) : Juniperus virginiana 



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

 community type (but not dominant) : Iva frutescens 

 Common herb stratum species in community cover or community type 

 (but not dominant) : Croton punctatus , Iresine rhizomatosa , Physalis 

 viscosa ssp. maritima 



24B. Soil Summary (by community type) 



Soil series: Capers, Corolla, Newhan, and beach soils 



Soil classification: Not determined 



Soil association: Beach- foredune association; Newhan-Corolla complex 



pH class: Not determined 



Moisture class: Excessively drained 



Source of information: Soil Survey, Outer Banks, North Carolina, 



USDA, SCS (1977) 



24C. Hydrology Summary (by community type) 

 Hydrologic system: Terrestrial 

 Hydrologic subsystem: Dry-xeric 

 Water chemistry: Fresh to saline 

 Water regime: Not applicable 



Drainage class: Somewhat excessively drained 

 Drainage basin: Coastal; not applicable 



Hydrology characterization: Somewhat excessively drained dunes, which 

 are alternately wetted by salt spray and rainwater with a perched 

 water table "floating" over saline water (Ghyben-Herzberg lens) . 



24D. Topography Summary 



Landform: Barrier islands 



138 



