tional characters; his types are in effect representative 

 points selected from a vegetation continuum.) 



This high pocosin community (1850 acres) is generally 

 dominated by a dense shrub layer of titi ( Cyrilla racemiflora ) , 

 loblolly bay ( Gordon i a lasianthus ) and fetterbush ( Lyonia 

 lucida ) . A sparse to scattered canopy of very stunted, 

 gnarled pond pines about 15 feet tall emerges from the shrubs , 

 and dense greenbriers ( Smilax laurifolia ) intertwine with the 

 rest of the vegetation. The community is characterized as 

 Pinus serotina/Cyrilla racemiflora-Lyonia lucida/ / Smilax 

 laurifolia (pond pine/titi-fetterbush//greenbrier; CT 1) . 

 Although pond pine, as a characteristic species, is included 

 in the community name, the true dominants of this type are 

 shrubs and herbs. 



Along bombardier trails which penetrate the high pocosin, 

 species of shorter stature are common. Leatherleaf ( Cassandra 

 calyculata ) is a prevalent low shrub in these tracks, and 

 yellow pitcherplant ( Sarracenia flava ) , purple pitcherplant 

 ( Sarracenia purpurea ) , and a sedge ( Car ex walteriana ) are also 

 associated. These species respond to the open conditions cre- 

 ated by the passing vehicles, and possibly to locally wetter 

 spots in the ruts. The open bombardier ruts mimic conditions 

 which would prevail under a regime of more frequent fire, which 

 would favor pitcherplants and other herbaceous and low shrub 

 species throughout the pocosin by maintaining the open, full 

 sun sites these plants need. Fires in pocosins also often burn 

 out small depressions which provide locally wetter conditions 

 and increase microhabitat diversity. The herb layer is depau- 

 perate in all the pocosin communities described here , except 

 in association with disturbance resulting from human activity. 



Surrounding the Dare muck soils is a wide band of Croatan 

 muck (loamy, siliceous, dysic, thermic Terric Medisaprists; 

 SCS, 1981) , which form the second concentric band in the 

 natural area soilscape. Croatan soils are shallow Histosols; 

 they comprise the most extensive single soil series in the 

 natural area, and support a rather heterogeneous vegetation 

 which relates to peat depth variation, timbering history, and 

 recent disturbance by ditching. 



The best example seen in Northwest Pocosin of Otte ' s pond 

 pine woodland type occurs over Croatan soils, along Loop Road 

 to the northeast of CT 1 (see map). The large, old-growth 

 trees of this 235-acre stand are about 12 inches dbh (diameter 

 at breast height) and 70-80 feet tall. The canopy is open to 

 scattered; the thick shrub layer is six to ten feet tall, 

 consisting of sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia) , titi, 



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