Natural Characteristics Summary 

 24a. Vegetation - Biotic Community Summary 



Community type: Nyssa sylvatica / Acer rubrum /mixed deciduous and 

 evergreen shrubs. (Maple dominant in many areas). 



Community cover type: Nyssa sylvatica 



General habitat feature: Pocosin (swamp). 



Average canopy height: 70 ft (individual relict cypress and 

 black, gum [Nyssa sylvatica biflora] to 100 ft) . 



Estimated age of canopy trees: 75 yrs where dominated by Nyssa . 



Canopy cover: Closed. 



Estimated size of community: 12,000 acres. 



Successional stage: Seral. Unknown whether this community will 

 eventually be dominated by Nyssa , red maple or some other species. 



Sere type: Psammosere. 



Common canopy species in community cover or community 

 type (but not dominant): 



Acer rubrum (red maple) 



Pinus taeda .(loblolly pine) in a few small areas. 



Taxodium distichum (baldcypress) in a few areas. 



Common sub-canopy or shrub stratum species in community 



cover or community type (but not dominant ) : 



Ilex opaca (holly) 



Clethra alnifolia (sweet pepperbush) 



Magnolia virginiana (sweet bay) 



Common herb stratum species in community cover or 



community type (but not dominant): 

 Woodwardia areolata (netted chainfern)- 



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