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The southermost dune ridge which reaches up to 10' in ele- 

 vation supports the unique combination of longleaf pine (Pinus 

 palustris ) , live oak and wiregrass ( Aristida stricta ). The 

 community has elements of both a longleaf pine sandhills com- 

 munity and a maritime forest. This community probably evolved 

 as such due to the changing nature of the island in relation 

 to salt spray and rising water levels. Evidence of fire is also 

 present here typical of a sandhills community. The northern 

 ridge is similar to the southern ridge except that longleaf 

 pine is not as important as loblolly pine and wiregrass is not 

 very common. More laurel oaks (Quercus laurifolia) are present 

 than live oaks. 



In the swale area to the southeast of the northern ridge 

 is a low woodland with elements of a maritime forest and a 

 pocosin. Indicative species are loblolly bay ( Gordonia lasianthus ), 

 sweet bay ( Magnolia virginiana ) , american holly ( ilex opaca ) , 

 wild olive (Osmanthus americana ) , red bay (Persea borbonia ) , 

 titi ( Cyrilla racemiflora ) , fetterbush ( Lyonia lucida ) , gallberry 

 ( Ilex glabra ) and wax myrtle ( Myrica cerifera ) . 



Saline swale ponds are also present in low areas on the 

 island. The dominant aquatic herb here is Widgeon grass (Ruppia 

 maritima ) . The north shore of the island exhibits characteristics 

 of an eroding shoreline. In some areas, the vegetation is being 

 undercut by the water. The presence of a swale pond adjacent 

 to the shoreline indicates that it was between two dune ridges 

 at one time. Also, there is a small island to the northeast 

 which was probably connected to Brown's Island in the past. 



There is one old homesite in the maritime forest on the 

 northwestern portion of the island. Florida pellitory ( Parietaria 

 f loridana ) is growing on the old brick chimney bases, and 

 daffodils are scattered throughout the area. 



Physical features: (See Map 18.) The island consists of a series of 

 relict beach ridges separated by marshes (formerly swale areas). 

 The marshes extend to Markers Island indicating that perhaps 

 the islands were connected in the past. 



The presence of live oaks and stumps in the southern ex- 

 panse of marsh appears to be a remnant of an earlier maritime 

 forest. The island itself appears to be in a state of change. 

 The forested areas are becoming marsh, leaving only narrow 

 stretches of forest. The dynamic nature of the area is not 

 restricted to the present. During the Pleistocene, Barkers 

 Island (including Browns Island), Beaufort and Morehead City 

 were probably barrier islands (Steve Snyder, Geology graduate 

 student, UNC , Institute of Marine Sciences). Many prominant 

 landforms on inland coastal North Carolina (including scarps) 

 are Pleistocene barriers (Mixon and Pilkey, 1976). It is 

 possible that Browns Island will be a salt marsh in the future 

 with the forces of a rising sea level and erosion that is active 

 on the North Carolina coast. 



