The greatest diversity occurs near the water, with almost 

 all of the species, with the exception of Arundinaria and 

 Asclepias , being found here. Osmund a regalis occurs between 

 hummocks of Spartina pectinata in lower areas. 



On the east side of Bennett's Creek the canopy is mostly 

 Taxodlum distichum and Nyssa sylvatica . There are a few large pines 

 behind the cypress and gum. Some large Acer rub rum occur occasion- 

 ally. The understory is largely Cyrilla racemiflora , Alnus serrulata . 

 Viburnum nudum , Myrica cerifera , Fraxinus caroliniana and red maple. 

 There is also a narrow fringe of Typha latifolia around part of the 

 area. Just a little farther downstream there are approximately 20 

 cypress that reach inland. Still farther east, there are more 

 Acer and Salix . 



LANDING RIDGE 



This is a large island in the swamp to the north of Sarem 

 Creek. Along the creek in several places there are a large number 

 of Fraxinus caroliniana intermixed with gum, cypress and large 

 maples. In places Fraxinus is the dominant tree. Little or no 

 difference could be determined for these areas on color infrared 

 aerial photography. 



Landing Ridge island has many hardwoods: Quercus falcata , 

 Q^. nigra , Q. velutina , Q. stellata , Q^. laevis , Acer rubrum . Other 

 species include Pinus taeda , P^, echinata, Chamaecyparis thyoides . 

 Magnolia virginiana , Persea borbonia , Vacclnium spp. , Lyonia 

 lucida , Smilax rotundifolia , S^. glabra . Ilex glabra , I_. opaca and 

 Clethra alnifolia . There are a number of large pines on the island 

 (up to 30" dbh) . Myrica cerifera occurs in clumps that are in some 

 cases up to 50 feet from the ditch leading to the island, in dry, 

 sandy soil similar to that found in the Sand Banks. Hexastylis 

 virginica is found throughout. Gaultheria procumbens grows 

 beneath Quercus nigra on a ridge ten feet from the ditch. This 

 entire area is very dry — mostly pines and oaks. There are 

 occasional Fagus grandifolia . Vaccinium spp. , Gaylusaccia spp. , 

 Pteridium aquilinium , Smilax rotundifolia , Vitis rotundifolia , 

 Lyonia lucida and Acer rubrum are ever-present. Oxydendrum 

 arboreum is sparsely scattered through the understory. 



CAPT. JIM FELTON'S ISLAND (called Hermit island on brochure for 

 the Chowan Swamp Trail) 



This is the first island on the south side of Cole's Creek 

 upstream from its mouth on Bennett's Creek. The island is raised 

 two to six feet above water level and is crossed by two trenches, 

 probably remnants from past logging activities, that appear to 

 intersect in the swamp away from the island. The southeast end 

 (that nearest the channel) is predominantly Pinus taeda on the 

 former site of a cabin. There is a clearing west of this, and on 



171 



I 



