leaf stands and dominates the deepest, wettest (Rutlege) swales. 

 (Some of the disturbed areas of Rutlege soils are occupied by 

 low red maple ( Acer rubrum ) thickets probably resulting from 

 logging.) Canopy height ranges from 20 to 40 feet. Generally 

 no subcanopy is present, but widely scattered subcanopy height 

 individual pines, tall bay species and a few red maples are pre- 

 sent. 



Beneath the canopy is a complex pattern of shrub-dominated 

 areas, arranged in response to moisture and frequency of fire. 

 Where fire has not occurred recently, an abrupt edge of dense 

 shrubs 5 to 10 feet tall usually marks the boundary of the 

 wetter soils. A partial species presence list includes sweet 

 pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia) , titi ( Cyrilla racemiflora ) , 

 male-berry ( Lyonia ligustrina ) , sweet gallberry ( Ilex coriacea ) , 

 bitter gallberry ( Ilex glabra ) , red bay ( Persea borbonia ) , sweet 

 bay ( Magnolia virginiana ) , and fetterbush ( Leucothoe racemosa ) . 

 Catbriar ( Smilax laurifolia ) is usually abundant. The few herb 

 species present include Virginia chain fern ( Woodwardia virginica ) 

 and giant cane ( Arundinaria gigantea ) . The community type is 

 characterized as Pinus palustris or Pinus serotina/ mixed tall 

 pineland shrubs// Smilax laurifolia . Where fire has occurred 

 more frequently, the community boundary is wider, and a broad 

 low-shrub-dominated ecotone is found. In this ecotone are most 

 of the shrubs mentioned above, as well as several species of a 

 shorter growth habit, such as sheepkill ( Kalmia angustifolia ) 

 and dwarf fothergilla ( Fothergilla gardenii ) , all 2-4 feet tall. 



Under natural conditions of frequent fire, the shrub phase 

 pine flatwoods of Minnesott Ridge, especially over the Leon soil 

 series, were probably much less shrubby and supported more herb- 

 aceous plant species. Unfortunately, a certain proportion of 

 the original diverse Minnesott Ridge flora, particularly herb- 

 aceous species, has been lost or suppressed due to man's suc- 

 cessful efforts to exclude fire, allowing shrubs to overtop 

 and out-compete the herbs. One species of particular interest, 

 Dionaea muscipula (venus ' flytrap), here at its northern range 

 limit, is persisting almost exclusively on ditch banks and 

 mowed roadsides, where human activity incidentally provides 

 the needed open conditions over wet mineral soil. 



In drier portions of the Minnesott Ridge natural areas, 

 the herbaceous component of the vegetation is more strongly 

 evident, but shrubs still dominate (CT 3; CT 4) . Soils are 

 of the Tomahawk series. Tomahawk soils are drier than most 

 pine flatwoods soils, being moderately well drained and with 

 a seasonal water table at about 3 feet below the surface 

 (SCS, 1981) . The community over these soils is thus 

 transitional between true pine flatwoods and more xeric up- 

 land pine communities (cf. Taggart in Radford et al., 1980). 



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