Inventory of botanical natural areas in Colleton, Dorchester, Horry and Jasper counties, South Carolina

[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]

]Inventory of Botanical Natural Areas
in Colleton Dorchester, Horry and
Jasper Counties, South Carolina

COASTAL ZONE
INFORMATION CENTER

September, 1984
E A

QK
911 CE
158 Equal Opportunity Agency
1984

S.C. Wildlife and Marine Resources Department
Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
U0 Jefferson C. Fullerjr., Director

t U . S . DEPARTMENT OF -COMMERCE NOAA
COASTAL SERVICES CENTER
2234 SOUTH HOBSON AVENUE
PREFACE CHARLESTON , SC 29405-2413

Inventories of botanical natural areas in Colleton, Dorchester, Horry and

Jasper Counties were conducted from April, 1983, to J une, 1984. These inven-

tories were financed by a Coastal Energy Impact Program (CEIP) grant to the

S.C. Wildlife and Marine Resources Department. CEIP funded these inventories

because of the potential environmental impacts of energy-related development,

especially peat mining.

Project coordination was provided by Dr. Douglas A. Rayner, botanist with

the Heritage Trust Program of the S.C. Wildlife and Marine Resources

Department. Dr. Rayner also produced the inventory of Colleton County. The

Heritage Trust Program has been involved in inventories for unique natural
areas throughout South Carolina since its inception in 1974. The other'

project participants (Dr. Richard Porcher, The Citadel; Dr. Joseph N. Pinson,

Jr., Coastal Carolina College; and Ms. Cynthia Aulbach-Smith, University of

South Carolina at Columbia) were selected because of their familiarity with

the ecological resources of their project areas and their botanical expertise.

The recommendations made in this report were made in consultation with

staff of the Heritage Trust Program. All recommendations are advisory.

Information and recommendations here are designed to help state and federal

agencies, county officials, resources managers, landowners and developers make

informed decisions concerning the impact of development, in general, and

energy-related development, in particular, on significant, botanical natural

areas.

The large size and rich natural diversity of the inventoried counties,

along with time and funding constraints, make it likely that the investigators

overlooked some significant sites. Dr. Pinson specifically states that he
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made no attempt to survey all potential habitats of rare, threatened or

endangered plants. This report should be considered a preliminary planning

aid and not a definitive planning guide.

These inventories have revealed at least 50 natural areas of national,

statewide or local significance. Many of the identl fied sites were previously

unknown, including two areas of national significance and 10 areas of

statewide significance. These inventories also revealed several potential

conflicts between energy-related development and significant natural areas.

The S.C. Heritage. Trust Program hopes significant natural areas recommended

here will be protected for the benefit of present and future generations of

South Carolinians and this report will help minimize the potential conflict

between development and the protection of significant natural areas.

Douglas A. Rayner, Ph.D.
S.C. Heritage Trust Program

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

On behalf of all project participants I would like to thank the many

individuals and organizations who provided assistance with this project.

Individuals and their affiliations are listed in the Personal Contacts or

Acknowledgements sections of the individual county reports. To each and

everyone I extend a heart-felt thank you. Without your assistance this

project would have been much more diff icult to complete. A special word of

thanks is due to Mr. Robert Folk who provided assistance throughout the

project period with transportation, lodging and advise on a wide range of

topics.

I also would like to thank the many landowners and plantation managers

who allowed access to their property. Without your assistance this project

could not have been undertaken.

The Citadel Development Foundation provided some additional funds to

support the work by Dr. Richard Porcher in Dorchester County, The Foundation's

assistance is gratefully acknowledged.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Dorchester County Inventory of Botanical Natural Areas ............. p. 1

Horry County - Inventory of Botanical Natural Areas .................. p. 31

Jasper County - Inventory of Botanical Natural Areas ................. p. 61

Colleton County Inventory of Botanical Natural Areas ............... p. 94

Inventory of Botanical Natural Areas
in Dorchester County, South Carolina

Richard D. Porcher
Department of Biology
The Citadel
Charleston, SC

September, 1984

Equal Opportunity Agency

S.C. Wildlife and Marine Resources Department
Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
Jefferson C. Fuller,jr., Director

AN INVENTORY OF BOTANICAL NATURAL AREAS IN THE COASTAL ZONE OF S.C.

(DORCHESTER COUNTY)

Richard D. Porcher
Professor of Biology
The Citadel
Charleston, S.C.

September, 1984 Final Report for CEIP-8307

This project was made possible by a Coastal Energy Impact Program
Grant, established under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as
amended, and administrated by the Office of Coastal Zone Management,
NOAA.

This report was prepared for the Office of the Governor, Division
of Natural Resources.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION .................................. 3

METHODS ............................................................ 5

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION .... _4 ............. 0.... 0..... 0 7
Criteria Used to Select High Priority Sites .................... 7
List of Sites by Acreage and Priority....* ................... 9. 7
Brief Prose Description of High Priority-Sites ....... 0.... 0 .... 8
Sites of national significance ......... 00 ...0...... 0.*0 ..... 8
Sites of statewide significance .............................. 9
Sites of local significance ............ *.... 0..* ........... 0. 14
Energy-Related Impacts on High Priority Sites ................... 19
Beidler Forest ..................... # ..... ............ 19
Givhans Limestone Bluff ..................................... 20
McAlhany's Southern Mixed Hardwood Forest ................... 20
Highway 165 Beech-Magnolia Forest ........................... 21
McAlhany's Ilex amelanchier... .............................. 21
Givhans Savannah .......................... 0................. 22
Kells' Limestone Bluff ...... 0... ........ 0............ 22
Middleton Southern Mixed Hardwood Forest .................... 22
Ridgeville Savannah ........ 0...... 0 ..................... 0 ... 23
Slides ................................... ;..................... 23
Status of Rare, Threatened and Endangered Plants
in Dorchester County .................. * .................. 24

LITERATURE CITED ....... o ......................... o... *............ 26

PERSONAL CONTACTS., ........................................... e .... 28

APPENDIX I: DORCHESTER COUNTY MAP WITH LOCATIONS OF
SIGNIFICANT SITES AND REJECTED SITES

INTRODUCTION

Dorchester County is located on the outer Coastal Plain of South

Carolina. It is exposed to a maritime influence only in the extreme

southeast corner where the Ashley,River and Rantowles Creek enter the

county. Dorchester is a rural county with only the towns of Summerville

(1980 census, 6,368) and St. George (1980 census, 2,134) having populations

of over 1,000. The 1980 census for the county was 58,761. The county

has 569 square miles or approximately 364,000 acres.

Dorchester County was founded in 1897, but its present boundaries

were not established until 1902 (Parker,-1979). It is bounded on the

south and southeast by Charleston County, the northeast by Berkeley

County, the northwest by Orangeburg County and the south and southwest

by Colleton County. Its elevation ranges from 130 feet above sea level

in the northwest corner to zero feet. Two major rivers traverse the

county. The Ashley River originates north of Summerville, runs for about

20 miles and is a saltwater tidal river only for a few miles. The

Edisto River is the dominant river of the county. A freshwater river

throughout the county, its entire length forms the county line. It runs

for approximately 35 miles and its origin is in the inner Coastal Plain.

Although Four Holes Swamp is a true river only in its lower reach as it

enters the Edisto River, it has a wide floodplain that dominates the

northeast and central parts of the county. Along the northeast portion

the county line is the run of the swamp. Beidler Forest, the most signi-

ficant natural area in Dorchester County, is located here.

Dorchester County's 364,000 acres are allocated in the following
manner: 1private, 249,000; corporate, 23,000; forest industries, 83,000;

Data Gbtained from Soil Conservation Office in St. George.

state and county, 9, 000; and f ederal, insignif icant. These acres

major land uses are as follows: croplands, 60,000; pasture and haylands,

5,000; woodlands, 260,000; urban and built-up, 30,000; and rural home-

steads, 9,000. The major crops are corn and soybeans.

The most dynamic part of Dorchester County is in the Summerville

area. As the urban area of Charleston spreads towards Summerville, this

area is experiencing tremendous growth. The rest of the county is moving

at a slower pace and changing very little. Its major historic district

is along the Ashley River where Middleton Gardens, Mateeba Gardens and

Fort Dorchester are located.

Most recreation revolves around hunting and water-related activities.

Numerous deer hunting clubs lease woodlands from private individuals or

timber companies such as Westvaco, a major timber company in the coastal

region. The Ashley and Edisto Rivers provide excellent fishing, boating

and swimming. Numerous public boat landings occur on these rivers, and

two state parks, Givhans Ferry and Fort Dorchester, provide recreational

facilities.

The rural aspect of the county is not likely to change in the near

future. Industrialization will cause only minor changes in the county's

land use. Only with the discovery of such a natural resource as coal or

oil will the rural nature of Dorchester be affected. Until then, major

changes in the county will occur in the Summerville area.

Pine and swamp forests dominate the vegetation of Dorchester County.

It has few hardwood forests. Large pine.plantations occur in the southern

portion; Westvaco Corporation is a major landholder there. The western

part of the county is mainly agricultural, this section has fewer pine

forests. The entire county is laced with creeks and branches

which support secondary swamp forests: Indian Field Swamp, Four Holes

Swamp, Cattle Creek, Great Cypress Swamp and Polk Swamp, for examples.

Virtually no original growth timber exists in the county with the

exception of the Beidler Forest in Four Holes Swamp. Most of the major

stands of mature hardwood timber occur in the central and southern parts

of the county.

One landowner dominates the central part of the county, the Southern

Railway. Its plantation consists of approximately 30,000 acres. This

plantation is kept in open pine laced with game patches to provide quail

hunting for executives and guests of the company.

The natural history of Dorchester County is not well-documented. Only

fdur- species of vascular plants proposed for federally endangered or

threatened status have been reported in the county: Trillium pusillum,

Eulophia ecristata, Narthecium americanum and Ilex amelanchier. The

only significant vertebrate species reported are the American Alligator

and Gulf Coast Mud Salamander. This is the first major detailed study of

the natural history of Dorchester County with the exception of the various

surveys of the Beidler Forest in Four Holes Swamp.

METHODS

The inventory of significant natural areas in Dorchester began on

2 April 1983 and was completed in May, 1984. Field work scheduled through-

out the year emphasized certain periods when species of major importance

(i.e. Trillium pusillum) were in bloom. A variety of methods was used

to locate significant natural areas:

Topo maps: There are 17 individual U.S.G.S. topographic maps for

Dorchester County. Several potential sites were located by looking for

contour lines, lakes, drainage areas, etc.

Aerial reconnaissance: Three flights over Dorchester were made in

a fixed-wing aircraft on 30 April 1983, 4 July 1983 and 18 September 1983.

The trips coincided with the major growing seasons. Virtually the entire

county was covered during the three flights. Considerable data were

obtained as several areas spotted from the air are significant natural

areas. Black and white aerial photographs helped us mark potential sites

on the county road map so they could be found in the field.

Aerial black and white photographs: A set of 1979 aerial photographs

of Dorchester County was obtained from the U.S. Soil Conservation Service.

These 45 individual photographs cover all of Dorchester County.

Herbarium records: Herbarium records were used to locate sites of

rare, endangered or threatened species of plants. Two records were

significant: a 1957 collection of Trillium pusillum, a candidate for

nationally-endangered status; and Asplenium resiliens, considered of state-

wide concern in S.C. (Rayner et al., 1979). Neither listing was relocated

in this study.

field survey: The majority of sites were found by field surveys.

Field survey consisted of driving throughout the county and observing the

vegetacion formations for potential sites. All U.S.,state primary and

state secondary roads were driven on during the course of the study. A

considerable portion of the unnumbered back roads and many lumber roads

were also traveled. When a potential site was observed, an initial survey

was made. If the site was significant, another trip was made to gather

additional data.

Individuals or organizations: Whenever possible, persons knowledge-

able with Dorchester County were consulted. For example, Dr. Julian

Harrison directed me to Site RS18; I also consulted Steve Leonard about

his record of Asplenium resiliens at Givhans Ferry. In general this means

of obtaining information was not helpful, since little field work had

been conducted in Dorchester County.

Soil maps: The soil survey of Dorchester County is incomplete. The

available maps were of no value for locating sites.

Literature: I found no literature that was useful for locating sites.

An article in Castanea by Gaddy (1982) refers to the "Summerville

Savannah" in Dorchester County. It has been determined, however, that

this savannah is actually in Berkeley County adjacent to 1-26. It is not

included in this report. I also reviewed a privately published history of

Dorchester County by Legare Walker (Parker, 1979), but.I found no infor-
mation that led me to suitable natural sites. Also reviewed wa's Ecological

Characterization of the Sea Island and Coastal Rdgion of South Carolina and

Georgia (Davis, 1980). No useful information on natural areas was in this

report.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

(a) Criteria used to select high priority sites: (1) the presence of

threatened, endangered or rare species. The reference for such species is

Native Vascular Plants Endangered, Threatened, or Otherwise in Jeopardy

in South Carolina (Rayner et al., 1979); (2) uncommon geological forma-

tions that harbor significant communities; (3) regional sites that have

significant recreational and educational value; (4) communities that are

rare because of natural constraints or rapid elimination through man's

activities; and (5) sites that are potential habitat for significant

species.

(b) Lisc of sites by acreage and priority: Nine sites surveyed in

this study are considered significant. Locations of significant sites as

well as rejected sites are indicated on the map in Appendix I. One site

is considered nationally significant. Three are of statewide significance,

and five are of local significance. A listing by priority is as follows:

Nationally Significant:
Beidler Forest. 3,500 acres

Statewide Significance:
Givhans Limestone Bluff. 50 acres
McAlhany's Southern Mixed Hardwood Forest. 100 acres
Highway 165 Beech-Magnolia Forest. 50 acres

Locally Significant:
McAlhany's Ilex amelanchier. 50 acres
Givhans Sa-@anna@. 100 acres
Kells' Limestone Bluff. 20 acres
Middleton Southern Mixed Hardwood Forest. 150 acres
Ridgeville Savannah. 20 acres

(1) Sites of National Significance

Beidler Forest., Beidler Forest represents the most signi-

ficant remaining stand of original growth bald cypress-

tupelo gum (Taxodium distichum-Nyssa aquatica swamp forest

in the United States (Porcher, 1981). In recognition of

this, the Department of Interior designated Beidler Forest

a Registered National Natural Landmark in 1979. Besides

the bald cypress-tupelo gum community, four additional

communities comprise Beidler Forest: mixed mesophytic hard-

wood forest, seepage bog, hardwood bottom and ridge bottom.

The mesophytic forest is also the site for Trillium

pusillum, a candidate for nationally-endangered status

(Rayner et al., 1979). Beidler Forest also harbors a

significant diversity of fauna.

Beidler Forest is significant for the following

reasons: (1) It-is the most significant example of an original

growth bald cypress-tupelo gum community in the United

States; (2) it provides habitat for the nationally endan-

gered Trillium pusillum; (3) it is a nationally-recognized

recreational site; (4) it has educational value; (5) it

provides habitat for wildlife; and (6) it is a bench mark

to gauge man's impact on the natural world.

There is no apparent threat to Beidler Forest at

present. The National Audubon Society operates Beidler

Forest as a nature sanctuary and requires that the Forest

be kept in its natural state in perpetuity. The main

potential threat is to the water quality in Four Holes

Swamp above Beidler Forest. Audubon has no control of

this. Pollutant discharge by local residences (sewage,

pesticides) can often go unde tected until damage has been

done. Poaching for wildlife may occur but should be at a

minimum because the Audubon staff patrols the forest. The

joint owners, the National Audubon Society and The Nature

Conservancy, prevent any development in the forest.

The National Audubon Society's present management of

the sanctuary ensures the continued integrity of the site.

(2) Sites of Statewide Significance

Givhans Limestone Bluff. Givhans Limestone Bluff repre-

sents one of the two known limestone outcrops in Dorches-

ter County and one of the few in the coastal region of

South Carolina. As a rare geological formation, it is

significant. It harbors a unique assemblage of vascular

plants that does not occur on other formations. Species

such as,Asplenium resiliens, Heuchera americana, Adiantum

capillus-veneris, Uniola latifolia, Thelypteris kunthii,

Ostrya virginiana and Penthorum sedoides represent a

unique assemblage of species. The bluff runs from Highway

61 to approximately one-half of a mile up the Edisto River.

Below the main house of the State Park, a floodplain

extends from the bluff to the river; however, beginning at

the main house, the bluff rises vertically from the river.

It is on this face that the unique assemblage of species

occurs.

The site is unique and significant for the following

reasons: (1) it is a reported site for Asplenium. resiliens,

a rare fern; (2) it is a rare geological formation; and

it has a unique assemblage of species.

There appears to be no threat to the limestone bluff

above the main building. The bluff is so steep here that

persons cannot readily climb the limestone. The area below

the main building, where a floodplain occurs between the

outc-rop and the river, is highly disturbed. Persons

visiting the park have easy access to this area. Camp

cabins are on the top of the bluff, and campers frequently

climb the bluff and throw trash on it. A dense growth.of

honeysuckle covers some of the outcrops and may have

eliminated the population of.Asplenium resiliens,found

there in 1970.

Management of the bluff above the main building should

make certain no visitors attempt to climb the bluff. A

protective fence has been placed on the top of the bluff.

This fence should be maintained and signs posted stating

that the bluff is off limits. No cutting in the narrow

zone of mixed hardwood forest on top of the bluff should

be allowed. Management of the outcrop below the main

building will be difficult. The narrow floodplain allows

easy access to the outcrop. A fence could also be in-,

stalled at the base of the bluff to prevent persons from

climbing the bluff. The entire bluff should be left in

its natural state and no manipulation of the system should

be allowed.

McAlhany's Southern Mixed Hardwood Forest. This site

harbors probably the richest and most diverse southern

mixed hardwood forest in Dorchester County. Its dense and

mature canopy of hardwood trees includes Fagu s grandifolia,

Pinus1glabra, Quercus michauxii, Liriodendron tulipifera,

Magnolia grandiflora, Acer rubrum andliquidambar

styraciflua. The herbaceous layer is especially rich and

includes Tipularia discolor, Sanguinaria. canadensis,

Epifagus virginiana, Podophyllum peltatum, Athyrium

asplenioides, Conopholis americana, Zephyranthes atamasco

and Woodwardia areolata. The forest is also on an unusual

site. Most rich southern mixed mesophytic hardwood forests

in the coastal region occur on the slopes of bluffs, are

well-elevated and drain quickly. The McAlhany forest

occurs on what appears to be an old floodplain on an

abandoned part of the Edisto River. The forest is laced

with slightly lower sites dominated by a swamp forest

community.

Its richness, maturity, size, undisturbed nature and

possible location on a former floodplain make this fdrest

of statewide significance.

There appears to be no actual or potential threat to

the site. The owner was at one time trying to sell the

property to an environmental organization such as the

Audubon Society or the Nature Conservancy. The owner has

no plans to timber the site or develop it for industrial

or residential use. Such development also appears unlikely

in the near future because of the remoteness of the property.

There is no active management of the site. The

forest is in a climax condition and will remain so unless

disturbed. This site should be left free of man's interven-

tion. Fire should be kept out because it would damage the

beech trees.

Highway 165 Beech-Magnolia Forest. This community fits the

description of Braun's (1950) Beech-Magnolia Forest. The

site doesn't fit the description of Quarterman and Keever's

(1962) Southern Mixed Hardwood Forest because it appears to

occur on a moist, not mesic, site. They excluded many

stands that had a high incidence of beech and magnolia from

their study because these trees occurred on excessively

moist sites. It seems best, then, to list this community

separately from a Southern Mixed Hardwood Forest and refer

to it as the Beech-Magnolia Forest described by Braun.

This site represents the most well-developed example

of this type community that I am aware of in the coastal

region of South Carolina. Its location makes it an @:,:

excellent educational resource. It is a very rich community

with a diverse and interesting herbaceous stratum.

One disjunct species, Lycopodium obscurum, goundpine,

primarily a mountainous species, was found growing under a

large spruce pine. This is the first of this species found

in the coastal area of South Carolina. Disjunct species,

such as L. obscurum, are botanically significant. They

have a gene pool unlike the main populations; thus they

may present opportunities for genetic research.

The site is presently undisturbed and is leased by a

deer hunting club. No appreciable perturbation results

from hunting; however, the presence of hunters increases

the chance of an accidental fire. There is a threat that

the site may be timbered. The land adjacent to the site,

owned by the same party, has recently been selectively cut.

Any type of timbering on the site will destroy the signifi-

cance of it. I see little chance of the site being developed

into commercial or residential property because it is too

remote. I also see little possibility of it being used

agriculturally.

Highway 165 Beech-Magnolia Forest represents a rare com-

munity in coastal South Carolina. Although the site is

small, approximately 50 acres, it is still of significant

size to warrant listing. It is a climax community and

should be left in its natural state. No active management

plans are necessary, and as long as no major disturbance

occurs, the community should remain a mature, climax forest.

Fire should be kept out of the site as beech trees are fire

intolerant. The site will not suffer damage from frequent

visits by educational groups.

(3) Sites of Local Significance.

McAlhany's Ilex amelanchier. Ilex amelanchier, Sarvis

holly, is rare in the Coastal Plain (Rayner et al., 1979;

Radford et al., 1968; and Cooper, 1977). It is presently

under federal status review by the U.S', Fish and Wildlife,

Service as a candidate for threatened status. However,

in 1984 state botanists removed this species from the list

of rare, threatened and endangered plants in South Carolina.

It should be considered of local, rather than national,

significance. The S.C. Heritage Trust Program, through the

Heritage Trust Act of 1976, is authorized to conduct

research and work to protect the habitats of rare, threat-

ened and endangered plants. This plant is rare and its

habitat should be protected.

The McAlhany population of Ilex.amelanchier was

located on May 27, 1981. The population consists of one

colony on the bank of a section of the Edisto River cut

off from the main river by stream piracy. The colony

occurs in a swamp forest community.

I see no immediate threat to the site. There are no

present plans to develop or dispose of the property. The

site is far enough removed from the Edisto River that

local fisherman are not likely to venture near it.

This site should be made known to the owners and

their cooperation sought to ensure that the site is not dis-

turbed. An organization such as The Nature Conservancy

should seek an easement or attempt to purchase the site.

Whatever the status of ownership, the site should be

left alone as no actual management practice would benefit

its population.

Givhans Savannah. This savannah is dominated by longleaf

and pond pine and has a well-developed herbaceous flora of

typical bog-savannah plants: Sarracenia minor, Calopogon

pallidus, Rhexia alifanus, Pinquicula lutea, Aletris sp.

and Ctenium aromaticum. Its excellent pond cypress

depression harbors the rare Utricularia inflata var. minor.

In the areas that have not been burned in the last few years,

sweet-gum is quickly becoming an understory tree. Typical

bog shrubs that also occur-are: Magnolia virginica, Ilex

glabra and Clethra.alnifolia.

The extensive disappearance of savannah lands in the

South (Schnell, 1976, and Folkerts, 1982) makes preservation

of remaining savannah lands with pitcher plants and other

carnivorous plants a priority. Representating a vanishing

and threatened ecosystem in the southeastern United States,

this site is considered significant. It is one of the two

known savannahs in Dorchester County that are in a natural

state. The site also offers excellent educational oppor-

tunities for local primary and secondary schools in the

Dorchester area.

Lack of annual burning presently threatens the

integrity of the site as savannah species may be eliminated
by the invasion of shrubs and trees.2 1 have no way of

determining-whether the site may be turned into rural

homesites. The site does not appear suitable fo r industry

because of its location.

Management of the site should include annual burning.

Visits by naturalists and educational groups will not

damage it. No type of drainage system should be constructed

as this would lower the water table and induce the invasion

of shrubs. Timbering should not be allowed as it would

change the present savannah-like nature of the syscem.

Kells' Limestone Bluff. Kells' Limestone Bluff is similar

to the portion of Givhans Bluff above the main building.

The bluff rises vertically from the river bed and runs for

approximately one-third of a mile. On the face of the bluff

occurs a community similar to that in Givhans Limestone

Bluff. This site is considered significant because of its

geological formation (limescone bluff outcrop).

The highland above the site is occupied by home sites;

however, the bluff appears to be undisturbed. The bluff is

too steep for walking or climbing. One owner stated there
2Although burning every two or three years is probably suffi-
cient to maintain the savannah, annual burning is best because
it is easier to observe the carnivorous plants and other bog
species when there is no litter left from previous seasons.
As this is an educational site, it is important to readily
be able to locate and observe its bog plants.

were no plans by his family or other owners to disrupt the

bluff in any manner. I see no immediate or potential threat

to this limestone bluff.

Management of the site should be limited to a "hands-

off policy." A fence might be installed at the top of the

bluff to prevent people from climbing down the slope on the

upper part of the bluff.

Middleton Southern Mixed Hardwood Forest. This site is on

the property of Middleton Place, a nationally-known garden

along S.C. 61.' It is a rich, mature, relatively-undisturbed

southern mixed hardwood forest of approximately 150 acres.

Dominant canopy trees are Fagus grandifolia, Quercus

michaux ii, Pinus tae'da, P-.. glabra, Ilex opaca, Magnolia

grandiflora and Quercus laurifolia. The herbaceous layer is

especially rich and diverse including Trillium cuneatum,

Conopholis@ ame ricana, Hexastylis arifolia, Luzula echinata,

Epifagus virginiana@, flodo@hlllum Oeltatum. and Obolaria

virginica. @klthough it is undisturbed and natural today, it

appears to occupy a formerly-disturbed site. There is

evidence of old phosphate mining,and embankments that might

have been used for water control structures in the old

inland rice industry are present. The site has been undis-

turbed so long, however, that it is now a climax southern

mixed hardwood forest.

Large tracts of undisturbed, mature, rich southern

mixed hardwood forest are not common in the coastal region.

The site is also close to educational centers in Charleston

and can be used as an outdoor field laboratory. For these

two reasons this site is locally significant.

There is no actual threat to the site today. The pro-

perty is being leased to a hunt club. The potential threat,

however, is great. The site is ideally suited for commer-

cial or residential development.- A significant portion of

Middleton Place has already been developed into home sites.

Easy access is provided by Highway 61, a major scenic high-

way running along the Ashley River. A proposed expressway

in the area will also make the property more suitable for

development.

To protect the integrity of this natural area, it

should be left alone. It will remain a climax forest unless

disturbed. It can be used educationally without any

appreciable damage to the ecosystem. Continued leasing to

the hunt club will also have no adverse effects. Timbering

should not be allowed. Fire should be kept out because of

potential damage to the beech trees and promotion of fungi.

Ridgeville Savannah.. Ridgeville Savannah is a small site,

approximately 20 acres, completely surrounded by rural houses.

One dirt road passes through the site, and several drainage

ditches traverse the area. The site evidently is burned

every year. This somewhat negates the adverse conditions

created by the drainage ditches, which lower the water table

and allow shrubs to invade the site. The site harbors an

excellent community of savannah-bog species: S. minor, S.

flava, Pinauicula caerulea, Drosera spp., Utricularia spp.

and Chaptalia tomentosa. It is a dry savannah and

Sarracenia minor is much more common that S. flava. The

latter prefers wetter conditions.

The once extensive savannah lands of the southeastern

coastal area have been reduced severely (Wells, 1932;.

Schnell, 1976; and Folkerts, 1982), and bogs in a natural

or nearly natural state are now rare@ This community,

has a unique assemblage of species and is being eliminated

rapidly today. Thus it is considered significant and

worthy of protection.

The site is in a very vulnerable location. It is

surrounded by rural farm homes. Some of the original site

has already been converted into fields. Unless steps are

taken soon, the remaining area will probably be turned into

fields or homesites. Since the bog is rurally-located and

owned by rurally-oriented persons, it is unlikely to be

donated to any conservation group. Outright purchase will

be necessary, but even this may not protect the site since

yearly surveillance is not possible. Also drainage ditches

in the area may so change the hydrology that the bog may

still be eliminated.

Management of the site will require burning and

possible modification of the present water regime.

(d) Energy.- related impacts on high priority sites.

Beidler Forest. Peat mining impact on Beidler Forest will be

minimal as there are no apparent peat deposits in Beidler Forest. This

is primarily a floodplain system not condusive to peat formation. Con-

struction of hydroelectric facilities would flood Four Holes Swamp thus

completely destroying the natural condition of Beidler Forest. Timbering

the forest for fuel would also destroy the integrity of Beidler Forest

and its standing as a National Natural Landmark. Oil drilling in Four

Holes Swamp or its tributaries would have significant detrimental effects

on the Four Holes Swamp ecosystem if a crude oil spill resulted. The

amount of oil spilled and longevity of the oil in the water would determine

the degree of adverse effects. Coal-burning facilities, such as a coal-

fueled electricity-generating plant, shbuld have no adverse effects on Beidler

Forest as long as the facilities were operated under present EPA guidelines.

Any acid rain would come from emissions generated by distant, not local,

facilities, so this poses no threat to the area.

Givhans Limestone Bluff. No peat reserves are on this site. Conversion

of this part of the Edisto River into a lake by construction of a hydro-

electric facility would destroy the site. No commercial timber reserves

exist on the site. The site does not appear to be a prime location for an

oil-drilling rig; however, such a rig on top of the bluff would significantly

degrade the site. An oil spill in the Edisto River above the site would

have some minimal detrimental effects; however, since the water level of the

river is at the base of the bluff, only a small part of the bluff would be

affected. Coal-burning facilities should have no effect on air quality as

long as the facility comes under present EPA guidelines. Any acid rain

would come from emissions generated by distant and not local facilities,

so this'poses no threat to the area.

McAlhany's Southern Mixed Hardwood Forest. There are no appreciabl e peat

deposits on this site. Conversion of the Edisto River into a lake by con-

struction of a hydroelectric project would flood this site because it is an

old bed of the river. There is a good stand of hardwood timber on the site,

and cutting it for commercial fuel would destroy the significance of the

site. A large oil spill from a drilling rig upstream from the site, if it

occurred during extreme flood conditions, might make its way via the water

to the site. The degree of damage would depend on the quantity of oil

spilled and the length of time the oil was in the water, but some detri-

mental effects would occur. An oil-drilling rig on the site would be

significantly detrimental. Coal-burning facilities in Dorchester County

should have no effect on the site if EPA guidelines are followed. Any

acid rain would come from emissions generated by distant, not local,

facilities, so this poses no threat to the area.

Highway 165 Beech-Magnolia Forest. No appreciable peat deposits are on

this site. There is a good stand of softwood and hardwood timber there;

cutting this timber for.commercial fuel.would destroy the significance of

the site. The site would not be affected by any hydroelectric project in

Dorchester County. An oil-drilling rig would have significant detrimental

effects on the natural integrity of the site. Coal-burning facilities

in Dorchester County will have no appreciable effects on the site as long

as present EPA guidelines are followed. Any acid rain would come from

emissions generated by distant, not local, facilities, so this poses no

threat to the area.

McAlhany's Ilex amelanchier. Flooding is the most serious threat to the

site. This c-ould be the result of a hydroelectric facility operating on

the Edisto River and would eliminate the Ilex amelanchier. Peat mining

is no threat. Conditions are not condusive for peat formation, and no

peat reserves exist at this time. No appreciable timber exists as a

commercial fuel source. Oil drilling above the site on the Edisto River

could result in elimination of the population of Ilex amelanchier, if a

spill occurred. Coal-burning facilities should have no effect on the site

as long as the facility comes under EPA guidelines. An oil-drilling rig

on the immediate site would eliminate the species. Any acid ran would

come from emissions generated by distant, not local, facilities, so this

poses no threat to the area.

Givhans Savannah. No peat reserves are on this site. It doesn't have

sufficient amounts of timber to be a commercial fuel source; however, even

complete removal of the pine trees may not destroy the savannah if

periodic burning continues and the hydrology of the site is maintained.

Removal of the trees, however, should still be avoided. An oil-drilling

rig on the site would probably destroy its integrity as a natural area.

A hydroelectric plant on the Edisto River below this area would probably

flood the site because of the site's low elevation and close proximity to
the Edisto River. A coal-burning facility, as long as it comes under . I
present EPA guidelines, should not significantly affect the quality of the

site's air. Any acid rain would come from emissions generated by distant,

not local, facilities, so this poses no threat to the area.

Kells' Limestone Bluff. Energy-related impacts on this site and Givhans

Limestone Bluff are identical.

Middleton Southern Mixed Hardwood Forest. No appreciable peat deposits

occur on this site. A good stand of hardwood timber is present. If it

is commercially removed for fuel, the integrity of the site would be

destroyed. No hydroelectric plant could threaten this site. Coal-burning

facilities located in Dorchester should have no appreciable effect on the

site as long as EPA guidelines ate followed. An oil-drilling facility at

the site would significanly perturb the natural integrity of the community.

Any acid rain would come from emissions generated by distant and not,

local facilities, so this poses no threat to the area.

Ridgeville Savannah. No appreciable peat deposit or commercial timber

are on this savannah. The site would not be affected by any type of

hydroelectric facility located in Dorchester County. An oil-drilling

facility on the site would significantly affect the natural integrity

of the site because of the small size of this area. Coal-burning

facilities in Dorchester County should have no appreciable effect on the

site as long as present EPA guidelines are followed. Any acid rain would

come from emissions generated by distant, not local, facilities, so this

poses no threat to the area.

(e) Slides. A series of color slides was taken of select rejected

and high-priority sites. The slides are not included in the report;

however, they are on file at the Heritage Trust office in Columbia and are

available for viewing. The following slides are included in the series.

1. Trillium pusillum, in Beidler Forest
2. Overview of Givhans Savannah
3. Givhans Limestone Bluff
4. Kells' Limestone Bluff
5. Overview of McAlhany's Southern Mixed Hardwood Forest
6. Overview of Middleton Southern Mixed Hardwood Forest
7. Sarracenia minor in Ridgeville Savannah
8. Overview of Ridgeville Savannah
9. Overview of Highway 165 Beech-Magnolia Forest
10. Bald Cypress-Tupelo Gum Swamp Forest in Beidler Forest
11. Mallard Lake in Beidler Forest
12. Colony of Ilex amelanchier in Swamp Forest
13. Colony of Tl-ex'amelanchier
14. Portion of Givhans Savannah Unburned Previous Year
15. Givhans Savannah After Spring Burn
16. Kells' Limestone Bluff Showing Plant Community (Fern is Thelypteris
kunthii)
17. Former Bank of Edisto River at Base of Bluff (Site of McAlhany's
Southern Mixed Hardwood Forest)
18. McAlhanyls Southern Mixed Hardwood Forest
19. Westvac-o Savannah
20. Locklair Savannah
21. Harts Bluff Xeric Community
22. Harleyville Savannah
23. Highway 178 Savannah
24. Dorchester Pond Cypress Depression

25. Four Holes Swamp Southern Mixed Hardwood Forest
26. Dorchester Longleaf Pine Community
27. Reevesville Longleaf Pine Community
28. Delemar Highway Southern Mixed Hardwood Forest
29. Givhans Bridge Southern Mixed Hardwood Forest and Xeric Community
30. Givhans Bridge Southern Mixed Hardwood Forest and Xeric Community
31. Dorchester Shrub Bog
32. Slands Bridge
33. Overview of Sawmill Creek Gulf Coast Mud Salamander Site

(f) Status of rare, threatened,and endangered p@ants in Dorchester.

County. Four species of vascular plants reported from Dorchester County are

under federal review as potential nationally-endangered or threatened

species: Trillium pusillum, Narthecium americanum, Eulophia ecristata and

Ilex amelanchier (Department of Interior, 1983). Considerable time was

spent looking for populations of Trillium. Two savannahs along Highway

178 were searched, but no specimens were found,(see rejected Sites RS5 and

RS6.) In addition to these two sites, Trillium.was constantly looked for

during field work in March and April. Every-rejected site and high-priority

site containing suitable habitat was searched, but no populations were

located. The only known Trillium pusillum in Dorchester County is the

population in Beidler Forest.

Although Ilex amelanchier is presently under federal review as a

potential threatened species, state botanists have recently removed it from

the state list of potentially-endangered or threatened species. Although

some time was spent in 1983 looking for additional populations of this

species, no time was spent in 1984 looking for it because of its revised

state status. The only known population of Ilex occurs on che McAlhany

property near the Edisto River. The original location of Narthecium

americanum. was "Summerville, S.C." I searched all savannah sites in this

study for this species to no avail. There are four savannahs along

Interstate 26. The Berkeley/Dorchester county line runs parallel to this

Interstate between the interstate and Summerville (see county road map).

These four savannahs are only a few miles from Summerville. As recently

as 1982 one of the savannahs was mistakenly referred to as being in

Dorchester County (Gaddy, 1982). Also, there is no savannah near

Summerville in Dorchester County excepr the one near Locklair Airport

(See rejected site number RS2.) These data lead me to conclude that the

collection of Narthecium. was not from Dorchester County.

Eulophia ecristata was reported by D. A. Rayner on 3 Sept. 1982 in a

pine-broomsedge savannah in Dorchester County. The savannah is at the

following location: 1.05 miles NW on Sec. Road 30 from its junction with

S.C. 61. Dr. Rayner and I searched this site in 1983 but could not find

any specimens. I also searched every savannah listed in this report, but

.could not find any populations of Eulophia. Although it is a potential

candidate for federal listing as a nationally-threatened or endangered

species, it probably is more common than presently believed. It has a short

blooming time and is sometimes difficult to observe in the dense broomstraw

where it often is found. I found it an several sites in the Francis Marion

National Forest, along 1-26 in Berkeley County and on the Webb Wildlife

Center in Hampton. However, a-s long as it is a candidate for federal listing,

continued efforts should be made to locate it in Dorchester County.

Accordingly, I recommended additional searches for Eulophia in the two

savannahs given priority status in this report and in the site where it was

found by Dr. Rayner in 1982.

Several rare plants were found during the study that are botanically

significant and need co be included in this report. A county record for

Habenaria nivea (snowy orchid) was found an Givhans Savannah. This species

is rare as it is not often found in the coastal area. Also, in the pond

cypress depression within the Givhans Savannah I found a population of

Utriculariai inflata var. minor. I have collected this species from only

two other sites in the coastal'area. Although it is not listed as rare

by Radford et al. (1968), my field studies in the coastal area lead me to

believe a listing of rare or infrequent is justified. A disjunct popu-

lation of Lycopodium obscurum (groundpine) was found in the Highway 165

Beech-Magnolia Forest. This collection represents the first population

found in the coastal region (Radford et. al., 1968).

The several specimens of Magnolia macrop@Zlla (umbrella tree),found

at Middleton Gardens present a difficult problem for botanists. The

question has arisen as to whether the tree is native or introduced. Hunt

(1947) mentions several thriving-, young trees there which he states are

apparently volunteers from older trees in the gardens. He does not mention

the origin of the older trees. Officials at Middleton Gardens do not know

the origin of the older trees. Until records reveal whether the original

trees are native or introduced, the source of the trees will remain a

mystery. Because of the rarity of the umbrella tree throughout its native

range (Radford et al., 1968; Peattie, 1963), the Middleton Gardens popula-

tion should be an area of special concern regardless of the origin of the

older trees. The population is well-established and represents a signifi-

cant reser-vior of this unusual species of magnolia.

LITERATURE CITED:

Braun, E. L. 1950. Deciduous Forests of Eastern North America. The
Blakeston Company, Philadelphia, PA.

Brunswig, N. L. and S. G. Winton. 1978. The Francis Beidler Forest
in Four Holes Swamp. National Audubon Society, New York, NY.

Carr, A. 1971. Black water-green light. Audubon 73(6):50-71.

Cooper, J. E. (ed.). 1977. Endangered and Threatened Plants and Animals
of North Carolina. North Carolina State Museum of Natural History,
Raleigh, NC.

Davis, J. S., M. D. McKenzie, J..V. Miglarese, R. H. Dunlap, J. J.
Manzi and L. A. Barclay (eds.). 1980. Ecological Characterization
of the Sea island Coastal Region of South Carolina and Georgia.
FWS/OBS-79/40, U.S. Dept. of Interior, Washington, DC.

Dennis, J. V. 1970. Four Holes Swamp, Berkeley and Dorchester Counties,
S.C : study of the natural history' and matters pertaining to acquisi-
tion* of one of the last large virgin bottomland swamps in the South.
Unpublished report for.The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA.

Folkerts, G. W. 1982. The Gulf Coast pitcher plant bogs. American
Scientist 70(3):260-67.

Forsythe, D. M. and W. B. Ezell (eds.). 1976. Proceedings of the First
South Carolina Endangered Species Symposium. South Carolina Wildlife
and Marine Resources Department and The Citadel, Charleston, SC.

Gaddy, L. L. 1982. The floristics of three South Carolina pine
savannahs. Castanea 47(4):393-402.

Heron, S. D., Jr. 1962. Limestone Resources of the Coastal Plain of
South Carolina. Bulletia #28. State Development Board, Division of
Geology, Columbia, SC. -

Hunt, W. K. 1947. The Charleston woody flora. The American Midland
Naturalist 37(3):670-756.

Parker, J. W. 1979. Lagere Walker's Dorchester County. Private
publication of 1941 manuscript. Six Greenhill Street, Charleston,
SC.

Peattie, D. C. 1963. (2nd Edition). A Natural History of Trees.
Bonanza Books, New York, NY.

Porcher, R. D. 1981. The vascular flora of the Francis Beidler Forest
in Four Holes Swamp, Berkeley and Dorchester Counties, South Carolina.
Castanea 46:248-80.

(in prep.). Asplenium resiliens Kunze and A. heteroresiliens
Wagner (Aspleniaceae) in the South Carolina coastal area.

Quarterman, E. and C. Keever. 1962. Southern Mixed Hardwood Forest:
Climax in the Southeastern Coastal Plain. Ecological Monographs
32:167-85.

Rayner, D. A R. C. Clark, S. M. Jones, R. D. Porcher, C. L. Rodgers,
W. T. Batson, J. E. Fairey, III, J. N. Pinson and R. W. Powell, Jr.
1979. Native Vascular Plants Endangered, Threatened, or Otherwise in
Jeopardy in South Carolina. South Carolina Museum Commission
Bulletin Number 4, Columbia, SC@

Reed, C. 1981. You, too, can visit a swamp and bring yourself back
alive. Harvard Magazine 84(l):55-60.

Schnell, D. E. 1976. Carnivorous Plants of the United States and
Canada. John E. Blair, Winston-Salem, NC.

United States Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. 198-3.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Supplement to Review
of Plant Taxa for Listing; Proposed Rule. Federal Register 48(229:):
53640-53670. Washington, DC.

Wells, B. W. 1932. The Natural Gardens of North Carolina. The
University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, NC.

PERSONAL CONTACTS:

Dr. Julian Harrison
Professor of Biology
College of Charleston
Charleston, SC

Steven W. Leonard
Route 18, Box 174-B
Lexington, NC 27292

Dr. Douglas A. Rayner
Field Botanist
S.C. Heritage Trust Program
P.O. Box 167
Columbia, SC 29202

Mr. Fred Kinard
Westvaco
Timberlands Division
P.O. Box WV
Summerville, SC 29483

Mr. Norman Brunswig
Francis Beidler Forest
Route 1, Box 114
Harleyville, SC 29448

Dr. Dennis Forsythe
Biology Department
The Citadel
Charleston, SC 29409

Appendix I: Dorchester County Map with Locations of Priority Sites
and Rejected Sites.

Priority Sites: Rejected Sites:

PS1= Beidler Forest RS1= Westvaco Savannah

PS2= Givhans Limestone Bluff RS2= Locklair Savannah

PS3= McAlhany's Southern Mixed RS3= Dorchester State Park Southern
Hardwood Forest Mixed Hardwood Forest

PS4= Highway 165 Beech-Magnolia RS4= Harts Bluff Xeric Community
Forest
PS5= McAlhany's Ilex amelanchier RS5= Harleyville Savannah
RS6= Highway 178 Savannah
PS6= Givhans Savannah
RS7= Dorchester Pond Cypress
PS7= Kells' Limestone Bluff Depression

PS8= Middleton Southern Mixed RS8= St. George Savannah
Hardwood Forest
RS9= Four Hole Swamp Southern Mixed
PS9= Ridgeville Savannah Hardwood Forest

RSIO= Edisto Xeric Community

RS11= Schultz Lake

RS12= Dorchester Longleaf Pine
Community

Site Boundary RS13= Reevesville Longleaf Pine
Community

RS14= Delemar Southern Mixed Hardwood
Forest

RS15= Givhans Bridge Southern Mixed
Hardwood Forest and Xeric
Community

RS16= Dorchester Shrub Bog

RS17= Slands Bridge

RS18= Sawmill Creek Gulf Coast Mud
Salamander Site

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GENERAL HIGHWAY MAP
DORCHESTER COUNTY
SOUTH CAROLINA

S.C. DEPT. OF HIGHWAYS& PUBLIC TRA14SPORTATION
Coon-7 mTo Tw
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRMSPORTATION
FEDERAL HGOMAY ADMINISTRATRM

1969

Inventory of Botat-fical, Natural Areas
in Horry County, South Carolina

Joseph N. Pinson,jr.
Department of Biology
Coastal Carolina College
Conway, SC

September, 1984

f A

CES

Equal Opportunity Agency

S.C. wildlife and Marine Resources Department
Division of wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
Jefferson C. Fullerjr., Director

FINAL REPORT

INVENTORY OF BOTANICAL NATURAL AREAS

HORRY COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA

SEPTEMBER 1984

JOSEPH N. PINSON

COASTAL CAROLINA COLLEGE

This project was made possible by a Coastal Energy Impact
Program Grant, established under the Coastal Zone Manage-
ment Act of 1972, as amended, and administered by the
Office of Coastal Zone Management, NOAA.

This project was prepared for the Office of the Governor,
Division of Natural Resources.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

I. INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

II. METHODS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Cartwheel Bay Complex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Socastee Savanna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Money Pond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Buist Tract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Lewis Ocean Bay Complex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Horryls Borrow Pit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Prices Swamp 46
Joiner Bay-Hors;p;n Bay 46
Salem Pond . 47
Little River @wa*mp* *. *. 48
Flat Bay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Brown Bay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 . . . . . . 50
Juniper Bay and Swamp . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Collins Creek Limesink Complex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Clear Pond Complex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Poplar Swamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . * . . . . . . 52
Perry Road Bay Complex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Fifteen Mile Bay Complex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Wolf Pit Bay Complex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Lilaeopsis carolinensis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
CoreoRsis rosea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Crotonopsis linearis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Dionaea mus@71pula . . . . . . 55
Schwalbea americana ' . : '. *. *. *. *. : '. '. '. *. *. *. 56
Reports of Additional R;r; il;nts'f;om* H'or*ry' C*ounty . . . . . . . . . 56

IV. BIBLIOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

V. APPENDIX I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

INTRODUCTION

Horry County is located in the northeastern corner of South Carolina. The

northeastern border of the county is a surveyor's line forming the boundary with

North Carolina. The county is bounded on the southeast by the Atlantic Ocean.

The northwestern and southwestern boundaries are formed by the Little Pee Dee

River, the Great Pee Dee River and Big Bull Creek. Horry County is the largest

county in the state with 737,280 acres of land within its boundaries. Topog-

raphy within this area of the coastal plain is flat to slightly rolling with

elevations from 0 to 110 feet. The main topographic features are sandy ridges,

river swamps and Carolina bays.

According to the Land Use Plan for Horry County prepared in May, 1976, 43.7

percent of the land in the county was in agricultural use. This figure includes

timber production, grazing lands and surface crop production. About two percent

of the land is incorporated. High density development is restricted to the

Grand Strand and the City of Conway. Residential development in rural areas is

primarily limited to areas adjacent to highways.

Many diverse plant habitats occur in Horry County. Wetland plant habitats

include those associated with lime sinks, brackish marshes, swamps and pocosins.

Lime sinks are the rarest wetland habitat in the county. Inlets from the ocean

are few and small. As a result there are few brackish marshlands in the county.

Swamp forests and pocosins are abundant in Horry County. Terrestrial plant

habitats have for the most part been exploited for economic gain. Pine flat-

woods have just about vanished since the soils underlying them can be

successfully used for agriculture. Coastal dunes and the associated vegetation

have largely been destroyed by development for tourism.

Prominent on aerial photographs of Horry County are elliptical bay swamps

outlined by sparsely vegetated sand ridges. Many of these Carolina bays are

filled with peat. These depressions have been the subject of numerous publi-

cations regarding the possible origins of the bays. Several authors have

presented data that these geological formations are of extraterrestrial origin,

formed by the impacts of meteors or comet fragments on the earth (Melton and

Shriever, 1933, Prouty, 1950, and Wells and Boyce, 1953). Other authors have

concluded that water, wind or other terrestrial phenomena have shaped the bays

(Cooke, 1940, Johnson, 1942, and Kaczorowski, 1976). A good summary of con-

flicting data about the origins of Carolina bays may be found in The,Mysterious

Carolina Bays (Savage, 1982).

A major threat to existing natural ecosystems in Horry County is residen-

tial and commercial development. For such development to continue expanded

wastewater treatment facilities and additional highways are planned. Not only

do new highways cover ecosystems with pavement, but also drainage patterns are

changed in adjacent ecosystems. According to the Land Use Plan for Horry County

(1976), Horry County is expected to have 10,582 acres of its presently

undeveloped land classified as developed by 1995. A proposal to use Carolina

bays as tertiary treatment sites for sewage is a threat to the composition of

the plant communities within these pocosins. Another threat to wetland eco-

systems is the commercial production of peat from Carolina bays. A recent study

by CH2M Hill (1983) has documented that some of these pocosins have peat

layers to a depth of 15 feet.

METHODS

The historic richness of the botanical natural diversity of Horry County

was known prior to this study. At least 20 rare, threatened or endangered plant

species had been reported in the county (Rayner et al., 1979). The county was

also known to contain the largest concentration of peat-based Carolina bays in

the state and essentially the only undisturbed bays in South Carolina harboring

the Venus' fly trap. Because of the restraints of time and funding, the decision

was made, in consultation with Dr. Douglas Rayner, to concentrate survey efforts

on natural ponds, large bays and bay complexes within the county. Although many

habitats with the potential for the presence of rare plants were surveyed, no

attempt was made to relocate all historic sites of rare, threatened or en-

dangered plants reported from Horry County.

The study began with a thorough survey of existing maps. Topographic maps

were useful in locating bays and natural ponds. Infra-red aerial photographs

for the county were checked at Waccamaw Regional Planning Commission in George-

town. A detailed soil survey report with recent maps is not yet available for

Horry County. The most useful maps were a series of 198 aerial photographs

(1"=400') made in 1975 and located in the office of the tax assessor for.the

county. These maps were much more detailed than the topographic maps, and they

were already referenced by number to the county highway map. I could easily

determine whether a bay shown on a topographic map was one bay or a complex of

several bays. I could also determine whether a bay or pond had been altered

priorto 1975 as the result of filling or draining. Since this complete set of

fairly recent photographs was readily available for photocopying, I used this

source extensively. Aerial reconnaissance was not necessary since these excel-

lent photographs were available.

Natural ponds, large bays and bay complexes identified from aerial photo-

graphs were sketched onto a county highway map. These sites were then checked

in the field for the presence of endangered or threatened plants. An exception

was made in the case of the Buist Tract, an area between Conway and Myrtle Beach

bounded by S.C. Highway 90, the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and U.S. Highway

501. The Buist Tract has been previously inventoried for rare plant habitats

(Rayner, personal communication). Pine savanna habitat was difficult to locate

by using tax maps. -This type habitat was easy to recognize visually while

traveling along backroads from one bay to another in 'the county. The

floristics of the Socastee Savanna were documented prior to this study. Data

included in this report concerning Socastee Savanna were supplied by the South

Carolina Heritage Trust Program.

Herbarium specimens were collected at each site visited. These specimens

have been identified and placed in the herbarium at Coastal Carolina College.

A list of 70 record plants from Horry County collected in connection with this

study has been given to Doug Rayner of the South Carolina Heritage Trust

Program.

After the preliminary selection of sites, personnel with the South Carolina

Heritage Trust Program assisted in determining the priority of each site.

These evaluations were based upon on-site inspections of some of the areas and

upon written descriptions in the draft of the final report. The insight of

Heritage Trust personnel was very valuable in determining the state and national

significance of the various sites.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

High and medium priority sites listed in this report were primarily se-

lected and ranked on the basis of natural plant populations present at each

site. The sites are listed in this report on the basis of priority. A summary

list of sites with priority numbers is found in Appendix I. The Carolina bays

and many of the ponds are also interesting in a geological sense. Since many of

the rare plant communities in Horry County depend upon periodic fires for

maintenance of the habitats, surrounding land use was also a factor in deter-

mining priority.

On-site inspections of eighteen bays or bay complexes were made during this

study. The best sites were visited more than once at different seasons of the

year. Most of these bays were found to have little herbaceous species diversi-

ty. A dense shrub layer often reaching the tree canopy is an indication that

fire has been kept out of these bays for many years. In the absence of fire

every two or three years, the herbaceous flora is gradually eliminated from the

wet margins of bays as the shrubs and tree seedlings flourish. It is primarily

the herbaceous flora that has become rare in the coastal plain. Once the

herbaceous flora has been eliminated from an area, a fire every ten to twenty

years does not restore the habitat or the species diversity. The potential for

restoration of rare plant habitat through controlled fires over a period of

years in a bay habitat is always a possibility.

Nineteen sites are recommended as significant on the national, state or

local level. Three of the sites, Cartwheel Bay, Socastee Savanna and Money Pond

are of national significance. Seven sites, Buist Tract, Lewis Ocean Bay Com-

plex, Horry's Borrow Pit, Prices Swamp, Joiner Bay-Horsepen Bay, Salem Pond and

Little River Swamp are of statewide significance. The remaining nine sites,

Flat Bay, Brown Bay, Juniper Bay and Swamp, Collins Creek Limesink Complex,

Clear Pond Complex, Poplar Swamp, Perry Road Bay Complex, Fifteen Mile Bay

Complex and Wolf Pit Bay Complex are of local significance. These sites are

individually discussed in the following paragraphs in order of priority. A

summary of sites showing priority may be found in Appendix I.

Cartwheel Bay Complex

The Cartwheel Bay Complex (Site 5) located in the remote northwestern

section of Horry County is a botanical treasure garden. Fire has been frequent

in the Cartwheel complex as evidenced by wide, open, wet margins around bays and

drainage areas within the complex. In addition to an amazing diversity of

species, the population of each species is also impressive. Thousands of Venus'

fly traps cover the ground in places, four species of pitcher plants are common,

and nine species of orchids grow in abundance. The largest population of Pyxi-

danthera barbulata var. barbulata (pixie moss) in South Carolina occurs within

this complex.

The Cartwheel Savanna and Bay Complex is completely out of the path of

rapid development at the present time. The open character of the area and the

.great diversity of plant species is due to periodic burning over a long period

of time. I speculate that periodic fire has been a part of the ecology of this

area for hundreds of years. Certainly the area has been burned repeatedly in

the last 75 years. The diversity of coastal plain species in this area is

unmatched in Horry County. The topography includes wet flatlands supporting

longleaf pine in the overstory, Carolina bays, sandy ridges and transition zones

between each of these topographic features. If large bays in this complex were

drained or mined for peat the naturalness of this area would be destroyed.

The Cartwheel Savanna and Bay Complex is the best savanna and b ay complex

in Horry County. Numbers of Venus' fly traps here are greater than in any other

site outside the Buist Tract. The largest and the only undisturbed stand of

pixie moss in the state occurs here. Thousands of terrestrial orchids dot the

landscape in August including Habenaria ciliaris, H. cristata, H. nivea and H.

blephariglottis. Four species of pitcher plants are also abundant (Sarracenia

flava, S. purpurea, S. minor and S. rubra . There is no habitat like this one

in public ownership in South Carolina. This site is considered to be of

national significance by the South Carolina Heritage Trust Program.

Socastee Savanna

One of the previously known, outstanding natural areas in Horry County is

Socastee Savanna (Site 35). Socastee Savanna is in many ways a typical savanna

of the southeastern coastal plain, and yet this savanna is unique in the as-

semblage of rare plants within its boundaries. The overstory is very open and

is dominated by Pinus serotina and Pinus palustris. The relative absence of

understory and shrub layers is due to frequent fires that typically occur in the

winter or spring every three to seven years. Grasses such as Aristida. Ctenium

and Muhlenbergia dominate the very diverse herbaceous layer. Since savannas

occur on nearly level soils underlain by an impervious clay hardpan, they are

frequently flooded for relatively long periods of time after heavy rains.

Socastee Savanna is not threatened by any energy-related development. The

savanna is threatened by rapidly accelerating commercial and residential de-

velopment. Two golf courses have been completed nearby within the last few

years. The completion of a new wastewater treatment plant in 1982 has increased

the numbers of single-family and multi-family units in the vicinity. Each new

encroachment in this area reduces the possibility that this significant natural

site can be managed in its natural state.

Socastee Savanna is significant for several reasons. The savanna contains

excellent examples of Pinus-Aristida and Pinus-Ctenium communities that are rare

and rapidly disappearing from the coastal plain of South Carolina. Three plant

species presently under status review (U.S. Department of Interior, 1983) for

listing as potentially endangered or threatened species are found here. It has

excellent populations of Parnassia caroliniana, Schwalbea americana and

Eulophia ecristata. Parnassia caroliniana (Carolina grass-of parnassus) is

known to occur in five southeastern states, and only South Carolina and North

Carolina have more than one population. Five populations are known in South

Carolina, and this is the second best one. Schwalbea americana (chaff-seed) has

been reported to occur in thirteen eastern states, but has been extirpated from

more than three-fourths of its range. South Carolina harbors more of this rare

plant than the other states combined. The largest known population was recently

found in Jasper County. The second largest population in existence is at

Socastee Savanna. The population of Eulophia ecristata (false coco) at Socastee

Savanna is by far the largest known in South Carolina. Although there are about

thirteen populations of this species in seven cou nties in the state, most popu-

lations are very small. Many other populations of plants found infrequently in

the state inhabit this savanna, including Anthaenantia rufa and Coreopsis

gladiata. The South Carolina Heritage Trust Program considers Socastee Savanna

to be a natural area of national significance.

Money Pond
Money Pond (Site 22) is a circular to oval-shaped, relatively deep de-

pression. Surrounding the pond is relatively undisturbed woodland. In the

late summer of 1983 the pondwas complete dry. Fimbristylis perpusilla was

collected at this site in October, 1983.

Fimbristylis perpusilla is considered "of national concern-threatened" by

the South Carolina Advisory Committee on Rare, Threatened and Endangered Plants

(1984). This species is also under federal status review for listing as a

potentially endangered species (U.S. Department of Interior, 1983).

Money Pond is in the path of development from North Myrtle Beach and Little

River south along S.C. Highway 90 and S.C. Highway 9. Although Fimbristylis

perpusilla is more abundant at Horry's Borrow Pit (Site 28), Money Pond repre-

sents a much more natural site for the presence of this species. This site is

considered to be of national significance by the South Carolina Heritage Trust

Program.

Buist Tract

The Buist Tract (Site 29) is located in the eastern part of Horry County

across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway from Myrtle Beach. Aerial photographs

of this area clearly show large numbers of Carolina bays interspersed with sandy

pinelands. Large bays, small bays, heart-shaped bays, overlapping bays and bays

within bays are all present within this area. Many of the photographs used by

Savage (1983) to illustrate various types of Carolina bays were taken within

this area. Vegetation associated with the bays is essentially pond pine-ever-

green shrub bog. Most of the sandy upland is planted in slash pine.

The moist, open margins of Carolina bays provide ideal habitat for Dionaea

muscipula, Venus' fly trap. Although this species is exploited by both com-

mercial and private collectors, a greater threat to the Venus' fly trap is loss

of habitat by drainage projects and by absence of periodic fire. Attempts to

locate populations of this species, known to occur in Charleston and Georgetown

Counties from herbarium specimens, have been unsuccessful. The Horry County

populations are very likely the only remaining ones in the state. A large

percentage of these remaining populations is contained within the Buist Tract.

Dionaea muscipula was under federal status review as a potentially en-

dangered or threatened species in 1979. In that same year the South Carolina

Advisory Committee on Rare, Threatened and Endangered Plants listed this species

as 11of national concerri-endangered." Since that time the species has been

removed from the list of plant species of concern in North Carolina. This

action necessitated the lowering of the status of the species in South Carolina

to "of regional concern-endangered" (S.C. Advisory Committee, 1984).

Wildfires have burned the Buist tract periodically for hundreds of years.

Two of the most recent fires burned almost the entire tract. The most recent

fire burned 30,000 acres and occurred in April, 1975. A large fire in the same

area occurred in 1954. These fires, by opening up the bay margins and reducing

competition, are of great benefit to populations of the Venus' fly trap.

Periodic fire is the best management technique for maintaining healthy popu-

lations of this species.

Peltandra sagittaefolia (white arrow-arum) is another rare plant known from

the Buist Tract. Members of this species are found rooted in the thick peat

layer toward the centers of relatively large bays. Periodic fire contributes to

the maintenance of a sunny habitat needed for flower and fruit production.

White arrow-arum is considered a species "of concern-status unresolved" by the

South Carolina Advisory Committee (1984). Carnivorous plants, including three

species of pitcher plants, sundews and bladderworts are abundant in some of the

moist, savanna-like areas within and adjacent to the bays.

In addition to unusual plant life, the Buist Tract harbors the largest

remaining populations of black bears in the coastal plain of South Carolina.

Although the black bear is a game animal in mountainous regions of the state, it

is considered by the South Carolina Heritage Trust Program to be threatened in

the coastal plain.

The Buist Tract is subject to several major threats. Any of these threats

could seriously affect the natural significance of the site. A major energy-

related threat concerns the potential for peat mining in the area. Peat de-

posits up to fifteen feet in depth have been recently documented in this area

(CH2M Hill, 1983). A small, viable peat mining operation already exists in

Colleton County, South Carolina. Peat from this operation is sold as a soil

conditioner. Cohen et al. (1982) indicate that South Carolina does contain

fuel-grade peat deposits, and that the technology exists to make economic use of

deposits of less than 20,000 acres. Peat mining in the Buist Tract would

probably destroy all elements of significance within this site.

Several areas within the Buist Tract have been selected as potential sites

for tertiary treatment of wastewater (CH2M Hill, 1983). The addition of

wastewater to a bay would cause drastic changes in plant community composition,

particularly in those areas receiving direct input. It is possible that the

vegetation of the entire bay would be impacted by relatively high sodium levels

in wastewater from Horry County. During periods of high rainfall even the edges

of bays are flooded. The populations of Venus' fly traps around the margins

could be adversely affected by high rates of evaporation which would leave

behind ever-increasing levels of sodium. The significance of the site would be

severely reduced if the bays were used for the tertiary treatment of wastewater

effluent.

A third major threat to the Buist Tract is drainage to facilitate the

building of highways. Drainage lowers the water table and adversely affects

plant communities dependent upon periodic flooding. Completion of highways

would accelerate residential and commercial development. Expansion of drainage

systems would be necessary for this further development to occur. Controlled

burning for habitat maintenance is not possible near an area with a dense human

population.

The Buist Tract is the largest contiguous tract of relatively undisturbed

pond pine-evergreen shrub dominated bays in South Carolina. This area contains

the largest population of the rare Venus' fly trap in the state, a good popu-

lation of white arrow-arum and the largest population of black bear in the

coastal regions of the state. The Buist Tract is considered of statewide sig-

nificance by the South Carolina Heritage Trust Program.

Lewis Ocean Bay

Lewis Ocean Bay Complex (Site 11) is one of the largest bay complexes in

Horry County. This complex includes three overlapping bays and what appears

from aerial photographs to be a bay-within-a-bay. Following a fire in 1975, the

Lewis Ocean Bay Complex was a natural garden of species native to pine savannas.

Fewer and fewer hebaceous species have flowered each year as the shrub layer has

become taller and thicker. Dioniea muscipula (Venus' fly trap) is abundant here.

This site is one of the few in the state where Asclepias pedicellata has been

collected. Timber management practices have scarred some areas of this bay

complex.

Dionaea muscipula is considered to be "of state concern-threatened" by the

South Carolina Advisory Committee on Rare, Threatened and Endangered Plants

(1984). The population of this species was quite large for several years

following the fire in 1975. It has been progressively harder to locate plants

in recent years as the shrub layer has grown taller and thicker.

Asclepias pedicellata, a rare milkweed, is considered "of regional concern-

threatened" by the South Carolina Advisory Commmittee on Rare, Threatened and

Endangered Plants (1984). Three widely scattered plants were located in June,

1983. One of these plants was in flower and fruit and was growing in the center

of a seldom-used road. The other two were in fruit and were found between the

eastern sand ridge and Ocean Bay. Probably the absence of fire has contributed

to habitat destruction and has reduced the size of the population. The flowers

of this species are green which makes field location difficult.

Potential threats to the Lewis Ocean Bay Complex include mining for peat,

drainage for development, and absence of periodic fire. This site is considered

to be of statewide significance by the South Carolina Heritage Trust Program.

Horry's Borrow Pit

Horry's Borrow Pit (Site-28) is flooded most of the year with water from

the Waccnmnw River. During wet years it is flooded year-round. Following the

hot, dry summer of 1983 the borrow pit had no standing water during September

and October. The bottom of the borrow pit at this time was carpeted with a

variety of flowering herbaceous plants. A borrow pit is not a natural area.

This one would not be significant except that four threatened or endangered

plants are present here. The four are Fimbristylis perpusilla. Coreopsis

rosea, Hemicarpha micrantha, and Sabatia.kennedyana,.

Several thousand specimens of Fimbristylis perpusilla, an annual plant,

grew to maturity during September and October, 1983, at this site. This habitat

dries completely about once in a five-ten year period. F. perpusilla is con-

sidered "of national concern-threatened" by the South Carolina Advisory Com-

mittee on Rare, Threatened and Endangered Plants (1984). This species is also

under federal status review for listing as a potentially endangered species

(U.S. Department of Interior, 1983). Coreopsis rosea is listed as "of statewide

concern-threatened" by the South Carolina Advisory Committee on Rare, Threatened

and Endangered Plants (1984). About 25 plants were persistently in flower from

1 September to 18 October, 1983. These plants grow just above the high water-

mark on sandy soil between the highway fill and the borrow pit.

Hemicarpha micrantha is listed as "of state concern-threatened" by the

South Carolina Advisory Committee on Rare, Threatened and Endangered Plants

(1984). Hundreds of plants flowered at this site in the dry fall of 1983. These

plants are almost microscopic and very hard to locate because they are hidden by

other vegetation. Members of this species grow on the bottom of the dry borrow

pit along with Fimbristylis perpusilla.

Sabatia kennedyana (Plymouth gentian) has been given a status of regional

concern-endangered" by the South Carolina Advisory Committee (1984). The rela-

tively small population of this species at this site occurs between the highway

fill and the borrow pit near the high-water mark.

Because of the presence of four threatened or endangered species, this site

is considered to be of statewide significance by the South Carolina Heritage

Trust Program.

Prices Swamp

Prices Swamp (Site 27) consists of two overlapping bays. A power line

right-of-way crosses both bays. There is a wide flat transition zone on the

western edge of the northernmost bay. This zone had dozens of specimens of

Dionaea muscipula in flower on 29 June, 1983. The southernmost bay supports a

population of Peltandra sagittaefolia along the power line right-of-way. Both

of these species are listed by the South Carolina Advisory Committee (1984) as

endangered or threatened. Periodic fire is necessary for the maintenance of

populations of both Dionaea muscipula and Peltandra sagittaefolia. In this

instance the maintenance of power line right-of-way helps to keep the canopy

open for white arrow-arum. This area was burned in 1975, and many of the over-

story trees were damaged or destroyed. The shrub layer has become very dense

over the last nine years due to the absence of fire.

The bays of Prices Swamp are among the sites proposed for tertiary treat-

ment of wastewater by Grand Strand Water & Sewer Authority (CH2M Hill,

1983). The natural character of these bays would be destroyed by the intro-

duction of wastewater. This site is considered to be of statewide significance

by the South Carolina Heritage Trust Program.

Joiner Bay-Horsepen Bay

Joiner Bay and Horsepen Bay (Site 15) are adjacent to each other and have

no clear delineation between them. Neither bay has a classic oval shape with a

sand ridge on the southeastern side. These bays are probably better described

as pine flatwoods. Pinus serotina dominates the lower sites, and Pinus

palustris dominates the higher sites. Along S. 45 coming from Bayboro, Horsepen

Bay has been logged within the last few years. A dense shrub and transgressive

tree layer dominates this part of the bay. Across S. 45 to the right, fire has

been frequent, maintaining a 100-yard wide savanna along the highway. Joiner

Bay to the north of Horsepen Bay has been recently ditched by deep trenches

several miles long in two directions.

The natural character of Joiner Bay has been destroyed by recent ditching.

Horsepen Bay is bisected by S. 45. Parts of Horsepen Bay have been severely

disturbed by logging and agriculture. A narrow strip of savanna near the road

supports an interesting assemblage of herbaceous flora. On 15 May, 1984, leaves

of Parnassia caroliniana (Carolina grass-of-parnassus) were found along the

roadside and in edge of the savanna area. This fringe area between S. 45 and a

shallow fire brake seems to burn every two to three years. If this bay were

burned more frequently it might be possible for the range of Parnassia to be

extended within the area. Carolina grass-of-parnassus is considered to be "of

national concern-threatened" by the South Carolina Advisory Committee (1984).

This site is considered to be of statewide significance by the South Carolina

Heritage Trust Program.

Salem Pond

Salem Pond (Site 16) is a relatively shallow, irregularly shaped, dolomitic

pond. Specimens of Taxodium ascendens up to 28" dbh dominate the interior

par ts. Edges of the pond are dominated by Litsea aestivalis.(pond spice). An

unsuccessful search was made to locate Lindera melissaefolium here. This pond

is an undisturbed natural site. Old growth pond cypress, black gum, red bay,

titi and sweet bay are common in and around the pond. More than a hundred

specimens of Litsea aestivalis were found around the upper edges of the pond.

These plants are a mixture of young and mature specimens up to 15 feet high.

The ecosystem surrounding Salem Pond seems stable. As older plants die, young

ones of the same species are there for replacement. Fire does not seem to be a

necessary factor in maintaining the present species composition. Seasonal

fluctuation of water level is a factor in keeping the pond canopy relatively
open. Salem Pond supports the largest population of Litsea aestivalis in Horry

County. According to Doug Rayner, it is among the best sites for Litsea (pond

spice) in South Carolina. The mature plants reach 10 - 15 feet in height.

Seedlings abound in the area. Litsea aestivalis is considered "of regional

concern-threatened" by Rayner et al. (1979). This species was deleted on the

1984 Revised List of Rare, Threatened and Endangered Plants. This plant is

still infrequently encountered and generally occupies a distinct habitat. The

Salem Pond site is considered to be of statewide significance by the South

Carolina Heritage Trust Program.

Little River Swamp

The Little River Swamp Complex (Site 26) consists of two classic Carolina

bays and an oval-shaped cypress pond. The southernmost bay supports typical

shrub bog vegetation growing on a 15-foot layer of peat. The northernmost bay

supports a dense forest of relati vely young trees. Little or no peat is present

in the forested bay, possibly because fire in the past burned away the peat

leaving behind a mineral soil. The cypress pond in this complex supports a

dense, old-growth stand of Cyrilla racemiflora around the edges of the pond.

The sand ridge at the southeastern edge of the northermost bay supports an

excellent stand of,Ceratiola ericoides (rosemary). This population of Ceratiola

is the best one in Horry County. The Horry County populations represent the

easternmost extension of the range for this species. The nearest reported

populations of rosemary to the Horry County populations occur about-100 miles

away in the sand hills of central South Carolina.

The two bays in the complex are proposed as tertiary treatment sites for

wastewater from North Myrtle Beach (CH2M Hill, 1983). High sodium levels in

wastewater from Horry County will likely kill most vegetation in the bays if

this plan is carried out. The addition of wastewater would probably not di-

rectly affect the population of rosemary growing on the sandy ridges.

The cypress ponds in the Little River Swamp Complex are surrounded by a

magnificent, dense stand of Cyrilla racemiflora. One pond is circular and

covers about two acres. The larger pond is oval and covers about 18 acres.

Relatively large specimens of pond cypress are present in both ponds. Three

colonies of'Litsea aestivalis are present at the smaller pond. Water levels on

26 June, 1984, were quite low. Turtle and alligator tracks were clearly visible

in the soft, dark mud. This site is considered to be of statewide significance

by the South Carolina Heritage Trust Program.

Flat Bay

Flat Bay (Site 23) is a large bay covering about 600 acres. The canopy,

largely composed of Pinus serotina, is closed. The dense shrub layer has re-

generated following a fire about three years ago. No particularly rare plants

occur here with the exception of a population of Pyxidanthera barbulata (pixie

moss). Fire in and around this bay has been infrequent. About half of the sand

ridge on the eastern edge has been logged within the past two years, and young

pines have been planted on the recently prepared site. No evidence of Venus' fly

traps, pitcher plants or orchids was found at this bay.

Pyxidanthera barbulata var. barbulata is considered to be "of statewide

concern-threatened" by the South Carolina Advisory Committee on Rare, Threatened

and Endangered Plants (1984). The population of pixie moss is growing largely

between the tracks left by four-wheel drive vehicles which apparently frequent

the area, This is the second best of three sites for pixie moss in Horry County

and in South Carolina. This site is considered to be of local significance by

the South Carolina Heritage Program.

Brown Bay

Brown Bay (Site 25) has been cut over within the last few years. A rela-

tively new road with adjacent drainage ditches bisects the bay. Fire in the

area has been intermittent. This bay does not have the classic oval shape of a

Carolina bay and is probably,best described as a flatwoods dominated by pond

pine. Controlled fire in this area would contribute to the expansion of habitat

for remnant populations of three threatened or endangered plants.

On the fringes of Brown Bay a small population of Pyxidanthera barbulata

survives between a roadside ditch and the bay. The area is kept open by peri-

odic mowing. Sarracenia rubra and Dionaea muscipula are represented in this

same area by small populations. This site is considered to be of local signifi-

cance by the South Carolina Heritage Trust Program.

Juniper Bay and Swamp

Juniper Bay and a small swamp associated with it (site 24) cover about

thirty acres and are habitat for a stand of Chamaecyparis thvoides. This

population of Atlantic white cedar is composed of mature trees, transgressive

saplings and seedlings. Since the canopy is almost closed, the shrub layer is

in the process of being shaded out. Tree species that have reached the canopy

and now compete with,Chamaecyparis for light include Pinus serotina, Acer

rubrum, Gordonia lasianthus,and Liquidambar stvraciflua. This site contains one

of the few remaining stands of Atlantic white cedar in the outer coastal plain

of South Carolina.

The management of Atlantic white cedar habitat is not well defined at

present. This species is not tolerant of fire (Sharitz & Gibbons, 1982). A

symposium on "Atlantic White Cedar Wetlands" will be held October 9-11, 1984, at

the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts. This symposium

should provide some guidelines for management. One of the objectives of the

symposium is to determine future research needs. It also will address the role

of fire, succession and a variety of additional topics. Juniper Bay and the

associated small swamp represent the best example of an Atlantic white cedar bog

in Horry County. This site is considered to be of local significance by the

South Carolina Heritage Trust Program.

Collins Creek Limesink Complex

The Collins Creek Lime Sink Complex (Site 4) is characterized by many

small, shallow to deep sinks. In addition, there are two relatively large

shallow sinks present. The deeper sinks contain large specimens of Taxodium and

Nyssa. A limited amount of.Litsea aestivalis is present in the area. The area

was burned about four years ago. Trees in the sinks were not damaged by the

fires. Litsea plants that were burned seemed to be regenerating nicely. De-

pending on rainfall, these sinks are dry or have water levels up to 3-4 feet.

Lindera melissaefolium was searched for but was not located at this site.

The Collins Creek Lime Sink Complex is the largest lime sink complex in

Horry County. Uplands around the sinks are mostly covered with planted pine.

Vegetation in the larger sinks is magnificent, old-growth Taxodium and Nyssa.

This site is primarily of geological interest. It is considered to be of local

significance by the South Carolina Heritage Trust Program.

Clear Pond Complex

The Clear Pond Complex (Site 17) consists of three, small circular ponds

and two irregularly shaped ponds. The largest of the circular ponds is Clear

Pond, which covers about two acres. The water in the pond is clear, and there

.is little fluctation in water level. Even in the dry, hot summer of 1983, the

water level was not down significantly. Most other natural ponds in Horry

County were almost completely dry by September, 1983. Clear Pond has been

extensively used as a community recreation site for many years. Vegetation

around the pond is sparse due to camping and other human activity.

Alligator Pond is about one acre in size. Vegetation around Alligator Pond

has been cleared for the planting of pine trees. The smallest circular pond is

less than 0.25 acre in size. It is completely filled with peat but is still

open; vegetation is only around the periphery. The two irregularly shaped ponds

cover a total of about 10 acres. Each has Taxodium ascendens and Nyssa

sylvatica as the dominant canopy species. Litsea aestivalis is present in small

amounts around both ponds.

The Clear Pond area does not have any particular floristic significance.

The area is interesting geologically and hydrologically as it is the only

spring-fed pond in Horry County. This site is considered to be of local

significance by the South Carolina Heritage Trust Program.

Poplar Swamp

Poplar Swamp (Site 21) was completely dry at the time of my visit in

August, 1983. The canopy here is closed. Even when flooded, the swamp is

relatively shallow. Nyssa biflora and Taxodium distichum are interspersed with

Acer rubrum, Liquidambar styraciflua, Ilex opaca and Liriodendron tulipifera. A

healthy population of Chamaecyparis thvoides is present in the swamp. These

conifers vary in height from 3 - 25 feet. About 35 mature trees occur in this
area. Poplar Swamp is one of two sites known to harbor Chamaecyparis thyoides in

Horry County. The swamp has been somewhat disturbed by a drainage ditch on the

eastern edge of the swamp. This site is considered to be of local significance

by the South Carolina Heritage Trust Program.

Perry Road Bay Complex

The Perry Road Bay Complex (Site 3) includes three bays, one smaller (25

acres) than the others (50 acres each). A cleared power line right-of-way

crosses the two larger bays. Fire has been kept out of these bays for several

years. A small population of Dionaea muscipula (Venus' fly trap) is present at

the smallest bay. The area where these plants grow is kept open by the presence

of a small access road crossing the sand ridge to the power line.

The two larger bays in the complex are not significant as a natural area

because of timber management practices such as plowing around bays, and the

presence of a cleared power line right-of-way through them. This site does have

potential for supporting rare plant species through proper use of periodic fire.

A small population of Dionaea muscipula is associated with the smallest bay in

this complex. This small bay is considered to be of local significance by the

South Carolina Heritage Trust Program.

Fifteen Mile Bay Complex

The Fifteen Mile Bay Complex (Site 9) consists of two medium-sized bays

(400 acres) and three smaller bays (250 acres). The westernmost bay in this

complex has been ditched. The other four bays support bay forests. Fire has

not been frequent in any of these bays.

The Fifteen Mile Bay Complex supports a dense bay forest with a dense shrub

layer. There is little or no interesting herbaceous flora. Unpaved roads

surround the bay complex. In most cases these roads occupy transition areas

between the sand ridges and the wetter parts of the bays. This site is con-

sidered to be of local significance by the South Carolina Heritage Trust Prog-

ram.

Wolf Pit Bay Complex

The Wolf Pit Bay Complex (Site 8) consists of one classically-shaped

Carolina Bay and a larger, more or less heart-shaped, bay to the north.

Separating these two bays is a sand ridge supporting a dense stand of turkey oak

with scattered long-leaf pines. The canopy in these bays is closed, indicating

an absence of frequent fires. A dense shrub layer is present beneath the

overstory.

The Wolf Pit Bay Complex is not recommended for further investigation

because of the paucity of the herbaceous flora. However, there is potential for

rare habitat restoration through proper use of fire. The overlapping, heart-

shaped bay configuration is of geological interest. This site is considered to

be of local significance by the South Carolina Heritage Trust Program.

Lilaeopsis caroliniensis

The presence of Lilaeopsis caroliniensis (Carolina lilaeopsis) at various

locations indicated as Site 31 on the map in Appendix I, has been recently

verified by the South Carolina Heritage Trust Program. This species presently

is under federal status review as a possible endangered or threatened-species.

The unofficial South Carolina list of rare plants (Rayner et al., 1979) lists

this species as "of national concern-endangered." The status was lowered by the

South Carolina Advisory Committee (1984) to "of statewide concern-threatened."

The recommendation to lower the status of this species was based upon incomplete

information. New information suggests that Carolina lilaeopsis is taxonomically

distinct from a naturalized, weedy species introduced from South America. The

native species occurs in eight southeastern states and is apparently rare

throughout its range. The only occurrences in South Carolina are in Horry

County. Carolina lilaeopsis typically is found in dune swale ponds within a

half-mile of the Atlantic Ocean.

Coreopsis rosea

The locality (Site 32) shown in Appendix I was found in 1980. Coreopsis

rosea (pink tickseed) has an unofficial status of "statewide concern-threatened"

(South Carolina Advisory Committee, 1984). The species is found in grass-sedge

bays and on muddy riverbanks. Coreopsis rosea is present at Horry's Borrow Pit

(Site 28). This species was not found along the banks of the Waccamaw River and

adjacent oxbow lakes away from S.C. Highway 9 during the present study.

Crotonopsis linearis

Crotonopsis linearis (narrow-leaved rushfoil) was found in Horry County

in 1973 at Site 33. Rayner et al. (1979) consider this species "of concern-

status unresolved." The status or significance of this population is unde-

termined. No additional sites for this species were located during this study.

Dionaea muscipula

Several sites harboring Dionaea muscipula, Venus' fly trap, are recomm nded

for status as significant natural areas in this study (Sites 3, 5, 11, and 27).

Additional sites previously reported to the South Carolina Heritage Trust Prog-

ram are collectively listed on the map in Appendix I as Site 34. The status and

significance of these sites is undetermined, but Dionaea muscipula is considered

significantly rare in South Carolina.

Schwalbea americana

A location for.Schwalbea americana, chaff-seed, indicated as Site 35 in

Appendix I, was reported in 1954. A specimen of this species collected in May,

1982, from Socastee Savanna (Site 30) is in the herbarium at Coastal Carolina

College. Chaff-seed is presently under federal status review for listing as a

potential endangered or threatened species (U.S. Department of the Interior,

1983). No attempts were made to relocate this population. Searches for this

species at other savanna sites in Horry County during this study were unsuc-

cessful.

Reports of Additional Rare Plants from Horry County

Several significantly rare plants have been reported form Horry County

including Helianthus schweinitzii, Fimbristylis vahlii, Chelone cuthbertii and

Arenaria godfreyi. Localities for these species were not included in Appendix I

because locality data in reports did not allow precise relocation or because the

sites have been destroyed as natural sites. Additional populations were not

found during the present study.

Helianthus schweinitzii (Schweinitz' sunflower) is known only from North

and South Carolina. This species is presently under federal status review for

listing as a potentially endangered or threatened species. In the coastal plain

it is reported from savannas.

Fimbristylis vahlii (Vahl's fimbry) is considered "of concern-status un-

resolved" (South Carolina Advisory Committee, 1984). Although this species has

been reported from Horry County in Radford et al. (1968), no herbarium specimen

has been found to validate this report. The habitat for Vahl's fimbry is moist,

sandy soil.

Chelone cuthbertii (Cuthbert's turtlehead) was given a status of "regional

concern-threatened" by Rayner et al. (1979) and a status "of concern-status

unresolved" by the South Carolina Advisory Committee (1984). This species is

only known in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The only coastal

plain report for the species is from Horry County, South Carolina. In 1931 a

specimen was collected by John Bright "in wet, low fields near Aynor."

Arenaria.godfreyi (Godfrey's sandwort) is under federal status review for

listing as a potentially endangered or threatened species. This taxon is known

only in Alabama, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina. The only report

from South Carolina is from Horry County. The species may have been extirpated

since the originally reported site is now a subdivision. The habitat for this

species is a marshy, open woodland over a marl substrate.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

CH2M Hill. 1983. 201 Facilities Plan Amendment for the Grand
Strand Region. (Plant "A" Service Area). Vol. 2. Report
of Carolina Bay Site Investigations for Teritary Treatment
of Waste' Water Effluent in Horry County, South Carolina.
Gainesville, Florida.

Cohen, A. D., M. Holmes, M. Andrejko, D. Corvinus, M. Tisdale and
T. J. Vigerstad. 1982. Peat Resource Estimation in South
Carolina. Energy Research Institute, Columbia, South Carolina.

Cooke, C. W. 1940. Elliptical Bays of South Carolina and the
Shape of Eddies. Journal of Geology 48:205-211.

Johnson, D. W. 1942. The Origin of Carolina Bays. Columbia University
Press, New York.

Kaczorowski, R. T. 1976. Origin of Carolina Bays. University of
South Carolina Technical Report, No. 11-CRD, pt. 2:16-36.

Melton, F. A. and W. Schriever. 1933. The Carolina Bays - Are They
Meteorite Scars? Journal of Geology 41:52-66.

Prouty, W. F. 1950. Origin of Carolina Bays. Popular Astronomy 58:17-21.

Radford, A.E., H. E. Ahles and C. R. Bell. 1968. Manual of the Vascular
Flora of the Carolinas. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill.

Rayner, D. A. and The South Carolina Advisory Committee. 1979. Native
Vascular Plants Endangered, Threatened or Otherwise in Jeopardy in
South Carolina. South Carolina Museum Bulletin No. 4 South Carolina
Museum Commission, Columbia.

Savage, H. 1982. The Mysterious Carolina Bays. University of South Carolina
Press, Columbia.

Sharitz, R. R. and J. W. Gibbons. 1982. The Ecology of Southeastern
Shrub Bogs (Pocosins) and Carolina Bays: A Community Profile.
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Division of Biological
Services, Washington, D.C. FWS/OBS-82/04.

South Carolina Advisory Committee. 1984. Preliminary Revised List of
Threatened and Endangered Plants. Unpublished Report. S.C. Heritage
Trust Program, Columbia.

U. S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. 1983.
Endangered and Thratened Wildlife and Plants; Supplement to Review
of Plant Taxa Listing: Proposed Rule. Federal Register November 28,
1983. 48(229):53640-53670.

Waccamaw Regional Planning and Development Council. 1976. Land Use Plan,
Horry County, South Carolina. Georgetown, South Carolina.

Wells, B. W. and S. G. Boyce, 1953. Carolina Bays: Additional Data on
Their Origin, Age and History. Journal of the Elisha Mitchell
Scientific Society 69(2):119-41.

APPENDIX I. Horry County: Location and Status of Surveyed Natural Areas
F @ Significant Natural Areas

Site Number Site Name Prioria Number

3 Perry Road Bay Complex 17

4 Collins Creek Limesink Complex 14

5 Cartwheel Bay Complex 1

8 Wolf Pit Bay Complex 19

9 Fifteen Mile Bay Complex 18

11 Lewis Ocean Bay Complex 5

15 Joiner Bay-Horsepen Bay 8

16 Salem Pond 9

17 Clear Pond Complex 15

21 Poplar Swamp 16

22 Money Pond 3

23 Flat Bay 11

24 Juniper Bay and Swamp 13

25 Brown Bay 12

26 Little River Swamp 10

27 Prices Swamp 7

28 Horry's Borrow Pit 6

29 Buist Tract 4

30 Socastee Savanna 2

31 Lilaeopsis carolinensis

32 Coreopsis rosea

33 Crotonopsis linearis

34 Dionaea muscipula

35 Schwalbea americana

0 Non-significant Areas

Site Number Site Name

1 Gunter's Island Bay Complex

2 Jordanville Bay

6 Grassy Bay Complex

7 Cushion Swamp Bay Complex

10 Chestnut Cross Roads Bay Complex

12 Opening Pond Site

13 Red Bluff Bay

14 Gurley Bay Complex

18 Horry Landfill Pond Complex

19 Mills Pond

20 Wampee Pond Complex

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Inventory of Botanical Natural Areas
in Jasper County, South Carolina

Cynthia Aulbach-Smith
Department of Biology
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC

September, 1984

Equal Opportunity Agency

S.C. Wildlife and Marine Resources Department
Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
Jefferson C. Fuller,jr., Director

FINAL REPORT

INVENTORY OF BOTANICAL NATURAL AREAS

JASPER COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA

SEPTEMBER, 1984

CYNTHIA AULBACH-SMITH

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA

This project was made possible by a Coastal Energy Impact
Program Grant, established under the Coastal Zone Management
Act of 1972, as amended, and administered by the Office of
Coastal Zone Management, NOAA.

This project was prepared for the Office of the Governor,
Division of Natural Resources.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

I. INTRODUCTION ................................................... 63

II. METHODS ........................................................ 65

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ......................................... 68

Criteria Used to Select High-Priority Sites .................... 70

List of Sites by Priority and Acreage .......................... 71

Okeetee Savannah ............................................... 72

Tillman Sand.Ridge ............................................. 75

Forks Lake Bluff ............................................... 77

Turtle Island .................................................. 79

Grays Sand Hill ................................................ 80

Pinckneya Site ................................................. 81

Leucothoe populifolia site ..................................... 82

Hodgins Hill ................................................... 83

Coosawhatchie River Bluff ...................................... 83

Balduina Site .................................................. 85

S.C. 46 Savannah ............................................... 86

Jasper County Park ............................................. 86

Robertville Savannah ........................................... 87

Purysburgh Ponds ............................................... 87

Calvary Church Savannah ........................................ 87

Consideration of Energy Related Impacts ........................ 88

IV. ACKNOWLEDGE11ENTS ............................................... 89

V. PERTINENT LITERATURE ........................................... 90

VI. APPENDIX I ..................................................... 92

INTRODUCTION

Jasper County is the southernmost county in South Carolina and lies

wholly within the Atlantic Coastal Plain. It is bounded on the south and

west by the Savannah River and Georgia, on the east by Beaufort County

and on the north by Hampton County. Most of the borders of the county

are natural drainage systems; the north-central boundary is formed by the

Coosawhatchie and Tullifinny rivers, the northeastern boundary by the

Pocotaligo and Broad rivers, the western and southern boundaries by the

Savannah River and the southeastern boundary by the New River.

The total area of Jasper County is 428,000 acres or 668.75 square

miles. Of this, over 40,000 acres, or 10% of the county, is salt,

brackish or freshwater marsh. Elevation ranges from sea level to 103

feet above sea level. Almost all of the southern part of the county,

i.e. south of Hardeeville, has an elevation of 20 feet or less above sea

level.

Most of the county consists of nearly level lowlands dissected by

drainages. There are a few sand ridges along the Savannah River. The

extreme northern part of Jasper County can be characterized as an area of

low, rolling hills.

The southernmost portion of the county is recent in geologic origin

and is characterized by salt and brackish marshes. The central portion

is Pleistocene in origin, and the'northern quarter was deposited during

the Miocene epoch. Most of these Miocene deposits are covered by Pleis-

tocene deposits of the Wicomico terrace (Cooke, 1936). Four of the seven

Pleistocene terraces occur in Jasper County. These are: Pamlico

terrace, 0-25 feet above sea level; Talbot terrace, 25-42 feet above sea

level; Penholoway terrace, 42-70 feet above sea level; and the Wicomico

terrace, 70-100 feet above sea level.

Recreational u se of the land in Jasper County is mostly restricted

to hunting and fishing. A large percentage of the acreage of the county

is presently managed for timber production and for hunting preserves.

There are five major vegetation types in Jasper Count,. These are

listed below along with the percentage of the county they occupy:

__10% Marshes, including salt, brackish and freshwater marshes

-35% River swamps

Savannahs, flatwoods and associated depressions

__10% Sand hills and sand ridges

__10% Other, including maritime forest, mixed mesophytic

forest, etc.

From these figures, it can be seen that up to 80 percent of the

county is low-lying and poorly drained. Permanent alteration of the

natural drainage systems is used to control flooding and to improve land

for.housing, agriculture, industry and timber management. Widescale

drainage is, however, the largest single threat to the natural ecosystems

in Jasper County.

METHODS

A systematic survey of potential natural areas which possess nation-

al, state or local ecological significance was conducted in Jasper

County. A survey of Jasper County was undertaken in order to identify

all natural areas of possible ecological significance, and in-depth

studies of those natural areas that were determined to be significant

were done.

The following technical information was generated: (1) County and

topographic maps with marked boundaries of rare species habitats, exem-

plary natural communities, unique or unusual geomorphic features, and

other outstanding features or natural areas; (2) comprehensive inventory

information on all significant natural areas, including management

recommendations and actual or potential threats from energy-related

activities with special attention given to peat mining; (3) ranking of

all inventoried sites into preservation priority categories based on

uniqueness of the area, presence of endangered, threatened or rare

species, and natural quality in comparison to already protected natural

areas of a simil ar type. The inventoried information was compiled in the

standardized format presently used by the South Carolina Heritage Trust

Program.

In order that this information be in a consistent form and useful to

the Heritage Trust Program and other state and local agencies responsible

for making environmental reviews and general land use decisions, specifi-

cations for field methods, report formats, and information resources to

be used for Natural Areas Inventories prepared by the South Carolina

Heritage Trust Program (1983) were followed.

1. Potentially unique or unusual botanical areas were selected by:

(a) Examining available soil, topographic, and geologic maps;

(b) studying black and white and color infra-red aerial photos;

knowledgeable individuals and organizations, particularly the South

Carolina Heritage Trust Program, the South Carolina Coastal Council and

the Soil Conservation Service offices in Ridgeland and Columbia.

2. Boundaries of potential natural areas were marked on county

highway maps, topographic maps and aerial photos from the Soil Survey of

Beaufort and Jasper counties.

3. Aerial reconnaissance using a fixed-wing aircraft was used to:

(a) Screen potential natural areas and select those worthy of preliminary

ground survey, (b) locate additional potential natural areas, and

survey was limited in its application and results. However, we were able

to locate undisturbed savannahs and determine recent or fairly recent

unnatural disturbances. Preliminary ground surveys were made of all

potential natural areas identified by aerial reconnaissance and areas

meriting further investigation were selected.

4. Heritage Trust Program staff were consulted before any on-site

investigations were initiated. Heritage staff reviewed the list of

potential natural areas that was developed and helped determine priori-

ties for on-site investigations.

5. Areas selected for preliminary or intensive on-site investiga-

tions were studied using methods and formats presently in use by the

South Carolina Heritage Trust Program. For potentially Unique areas, an

On-site Data Collection Form was completed and, as needed, Community

Survey Forms and Special Flora Element Data Sheets were used.

6. At each significant natural area, a collection of herbarium

voucher specimens was made for all species with sufficient material for

accurate identification. The collection of specimens was made on a

seasonal basis, and on-site visits were made during all seasons, when

possible. Specimens were deposited in the University of South Carolina

Herbarium (USCH) in Columbia, South Carolina.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Prior to the start of this study in early 1983, portions of Jasper

County were known to be botanically rich. The Tillman Sand Ridge and

Okeetee Savannah are two areas which were well-known, not only as natural

areas supporting rare plants, but also for their reptile populations.

At the beginning of this study, there were 20 species of rare,

threatened or endangered plants reported in Jasper County; these are

listed below. Despite extensive searching, only 12 of these species were

found. These species are-preceded by an asterisk.

*Athaenantia rufa Purple silkyscale
*Balduina uniflora Single-flowered balduina
*Canna flaccida - Golden caanalily
*Crotonopsis linearis - Narrow-leaved rushfoil
*Dicerandra odoratissima - Rose dicerandra
*Eulophia ecristata - False coco
*Halesia diptera - Two-winged silverbell
*Licania michauxii - Gopher apples
*Litsea aestivalis - Pond spice
*Pinckneya pubens - Georgia fever-bark tree
*Rudbeckia mollis - Soft-haired coneflower
*Schwalbea americana Chaff-seed
Cliftonia monophylla Black titi
Habenaria integra - Yellow fringless orchid
Hypericum adpressum - Creeping St. Johns wort
Lepuropetalon spathulatum - Southern lepuropetalon
Polygala nana - Low mili@ort
Potamogeton foliosus - Leafy pondweed
Sageretia minutiflora - Shell-mound buckthorn
Scleria baldwinii - Baldwin's nutrush
Spiranthes longilabris - Giant spiral orchid

Many reports of the occurrence of these rare plants are dated from

the 1960s or earlier. Since that time, Jasper County has undergone

considerable changes. Most significantly, drainage systems have been

added to many large tracts of land to improve them for forestry and

agriculture. This has been detrimental to those rare plant species which

are adapted to low, wet conditions.

The possible reasons why previously reported populations of some

rare plants could not be relocated include: (1) The site has been

drained, (2) the site had been recently cut-over or otherwise disturbed,

(3) most of the field work was done in 1983, and it was a very dry year,

(4) the locality information available was vague, erroneous or non-

existent, or (5) the species is ephemeral and/or requires special envi-

ronmental conditions. Polygala nana and possibly Lepuropetalon

spathulatum are two species which may be ephemeral and were not found.

Habenaria integra, Scleria baldwinii and Spiranthes longilabris were

reported from-areas which now appear to be drained. Potamogeton

foliosus, an aquatic plant, occurs on Turtle Island, according to re-

ports. Due to the inaccessibility of the site, all of the field time was

spent searching the upland areas. Cliftonia monophylla was not found

despite numerous searches. Suitable habitat exists in the Robertville

area, and it is recommended that the search for this species continue.

Hypericum adpressum is typically found in bogs, but the site on which it

was reported is now a major drainage channel and is highly disturbed.

Sageretia minutiflora was not found on Turtle Island, but all potential

habitat was not searched.

During the course of this study, two species were found which were

not previously known to occur in South Carolina. These are Forestiera

segregata and Pycnanthemum nudum. Forestiera segregata has recently been

added to the list of threatened and endangered plants of South Carolina

(S.C. Advisory Committee, 1984). Two additional rare, threatened or

endangered species were found in Jasper County. Although earlier reports

documented these species' existence in South Carolina, their localities

were previously unknown. These are Leucothoe populifolia (Carolina

dog-hobble) and Nyssa ogeche (Ogeechee-lime).

Criteria Used to Select High-Priority Sites

All investigated sites were ranked into preservation priority
P

categories. Ranking was based on the uniqueness of the area, the pres-

ence of endangered and threatened species, and the site's natural

quality.

Sites of National Significance: The site must satisfy the following

requirements to be considered of national significance: (a) Contain one

or more plant species currently under federal status review (U.S.D.I.,

1983), and (b) the site must support a high-quality community type.

Sites of State Significance: Those sites which are considered to be

of statewide significance must meet at least one of the following re-

quirements: (a) It supports a population of a plant species which is

listed as endangered or threatened in South Carolina, and the site must

be of high quality; or (b) the site must support an element which is

under federal status review for listing as an endangered or threatened

species in South Carolina, but the site is not a high-quality example of

its type.

Sites of Local Significance: To be considered of local signifi-

cance, a site must satisfy one of the following requirements: (a) It is

a high-quality example of a community type that is rare in the coastal

plain; (b) it supports a population of an endangered or threatened plant

species, but the site is not a high-quality example of its type; or

recent past.

A very conservative approach was taken in determining the signifi-

cance of high-priority sites. Many sites were rejected on the basis that

they were disturbed and the rare plant species which had been reported

there could not be found. After these sites recover from the distur-

bance, the sites should be revisited to determine whether the rare plants

have become reestablished in the areas.

List of Sites by Priority and Acreage

A. Sites of National Significance

Okeetee Savannah - Code #1 4,000 acres

B. Sites of Statewide Significance

Tillman Sand Ridge - Code #2 3,000 acres

Forks Lake Bluff - Code #3 5 acres

Turtle Island - Code #4 1,750 acres

Grays Sand Hill Code #6 200 acres

Pinckneya Site Code #7 5 acres

Leucothoe populifolia Site - Code #9 undetermined

Hodgins Hill - Code #15 20 acres

C. Sites of Local Significance

Coosawhatchie River Bluff - Code #5 10 acres

Balduina Site - Code #8 undetermined

S.C. 46 Savannah - Code #11 20 acres

Jasper County Park - Code #12 undetermined

Robertville Savannah - Code #29 2 acres

Purysburgh Ponds - Code #33 30 acres

Calvary Church Savannah - Code #34 10 acres

In the following discussion, the status is listed for the rare plant

species occurring on these sites. This information is from Rayner et al.

(1979) unless cited otherwise. The locations of these sites are marked

on a Jasper County General Highway Map (Appendix 1). All information on

the soils of the sites has been taken directly from Stuck (1980).

OKEETEE SAVANNAH - Code #1

Site Description: Okeetee Savannah is located west of Ridgeland and

occurs within the boundaries of U.S. Highway 321 on thewest, S.C.

Highway 336 on the south and County Road 22 on the north and east.-

Okeetee Savannah is a complex of eight intergrading plant communities.

These communities are: (1) longleaf pine savannah, (2) oak savannah,

(3) cypress savannah, (4) longleaf pine flatwoods, (5) pond pine flat-

woods, (6) cypress.ponds, (7) gum ponds and (8) low woods. This complex

is one of the largest, undisturbed examples of i-ts type in the world.

All of these communities are distinguished by the canopy trees;

however, in the savannahs and flatwoods, the herbaceous component is the

most important. It is characterized by a high diversity of species. Of

the 85 species of plants found in the savannahs and flatwoods, only 15

are trees or shrubs. Of the 70 herbaceous species, nine are native

orchids and lilies, four are parasitic species, and three are insecti-

vorous plants.

The savannahs are characterized by scattered trees providing less

than 30 percent canopy cover. The cypress savannahs occur in slightly

lower and wetter areas than the longleaf pine savannahs. The oak

savannah probably represents those areas of pine savannah which have been

less intensely burned or not burned at all sometime in the past. The

pond pine flatwoods appear to occupy very shallow, natural drainages in

the savannahs. The longleaf pine flatwoods are slightly elevated above

the surrounding savannahs. Canopy trees here are more closely spaced and

provide more cover than those in the savannahs. Cypress and gum ponds

are numerous and occupy small depressions scattered throughout the site.

They are generally oval or circular and contain water or are wet through-

out much of the year. They are important refuges for wildlife during

fires or periods of drought.

The soil types here include Paxville and those of the Rains-

Lynchburg Association. Paxville fine, sandy loam is very poorly drained,

has a pH of 4.5 to 6.5, and occurs in the drainages. Rains fine, sandy

loam is poorly drained, has a pH of 4.5 to 6.0, and occurs on the flat

lowlands; this soil type supports the savannah communities. Lynchburg

loamy, fine sand is somewhat poorly drained, has a pH of 3.6 to 5.5, and

occurs on somewhat higher ground. This soil type supports the longleaf

pine flatwoods. At certain depths these soil types are impermeable.

This results in saturated soil during wet seasons and very dry soil

during dry seasons.

Site Significance: Okeetee Savannah is an undisturbed, high quality

savannah/flatwoods complex. It is the largest undisturbed example of

this community complex in South Carolina and is one of the largest of its

type in the world. This community type is endangered in the United

States. This site supports the largest known population of Schwalbea

americana (chaff-seed) in the world and contains more individual plants

of this species than all other known populations combined. Schwalbea is

listed in South Carolina as "of national concern - threatened" and is

currently under federal status review (USDI, 1983). Schwalbea is found

throughout the longleaf pine flatwoods of Okeetee. Nyssa ogeche

(Ogeechee lime), which is listed as "of statewide concern -- endangered"

in South Carolina, occurs on this site in low woods. This is the only

recently verified locality for this species in South Carolina.

Anthaenantia rufa (purple silkyscale) is found in one locality on Okeetee
Savannah; this species is listed in South Carolina as ".of concern - I

status unresolved." The red-cockaded woodpecker also occurs here; it is

listed officially as endangered in South Carolina (Rule 123-150 and

Amendments; Section 50-15-80; 1976; S.C. Code of Laws) and is federally

endangered (U.S.D.I., 1984). Suitable habitat is present for at least

eight other species on South Carolina's rare and endangered plant list.

These include Habenaria integra, Scleria baldwinii, Spiranthes

longilabris, Asclepias pedicillata, Parnassia caroliniana, Canna

flaccida, Spiranthes laciniata and Pinckneya pubens.

In addition to supporting these rare elements, Okeetee Savannah also

is a spectacular wildflower area. There is an impressive display of

color and diversity of wildflowers from April through October.

Threats to Area and Natural Elements: At this time there are a few

direct threats to the Okeetee Savannah complex. The primary threat is

the proximity of the Upper New River Watershed Project, which is draining

a large tract of land in the immediate vicinity. The effects of this

drainage on Okeetee Savannah are unknown at this time. This site is

maintained as a hunting preserve; therefore, many wildlife planting areas

occur on the site. The best sites for Schwalbea are also the best sites

for the wildlife planting areas. Site preparation for wildlife plantings

in the Schwalbea habitat would destroy the species.

There are several potential threats to Okeetee Savannah. The first

is the possibility of large-scale timber operations. Presently, there is

some selective cutting taking place; this has minimal impact due to the

fact that the canopy trees are not the most important component of the

community. Large-scale clear cutting and subsequent planting of pine

plantations would be detrimental to the site due to changes in canopy

cover and evapo-transpiration rates. Another potential threat, related

to the first, would be land treatment measures for timber and water

management. Large-scale drainage has become a common practice in Jasper

County; one of the reasons Okeetee Savannah is considered to be of

national significance is because it has not been affected by drainage

projects. Drainage could allow for high-intensity forest management,

including clearing, discing and planting in pine.

Management ecommendations: Maintenance as a hunting preserve has

probably been the one crucial factor in the preservation of this site as

a significant natural area. Except for those ditches necessary for road

maintenance, there have been no artificial drainage systems added to the

site. Also, to maintain good habitat for hunting purposes, the site has

been subjected to annual prescribed fires. Recommended management for

this area would entail continuing the present burning practices and no

alteration of the natural drainage systems. Selective timber cutting

probably would be beneficial to the savannah and flatwoods communities as

long as it is followed by natural regeneration.

TILLMAN SAND RIDGE - Code #2

Site Description: The Tillman Sand Ridge is an elongated sand ridge

that parallels the Savannah River. It has a northwest to southeast

orientation. It is bounded on the southeast, south and southwest by the

Savannah River Swamp, on the north and northeast by the Black Swamp, and

on the east and southea%t by Cypress Creek. The primary soil type is

Buncombe sand, pH 6.1 to 6.5. This site is an excessively drained, dry

terrestrial ecosystem. The elevation ranges from 25 feet to 60 feet.

Presently, most of the site has been planted in pine or has been recently

clear-cut. Prior to this use of the site, the flat to moderately sloping

central portion of the ridge supported an open longleaf pine-turkey oak

forest. The intermediate ridges.at the lower elevations probably sup-

ported a southern mixed hardwood forest or a spruce pine-laurel oak

forest.

Site Significance: This site contains populations of five plant

species of concern in South Carolina. Of these, Rudbeckia mollis (soft-

haired cone-flower), Dicerandra odoratissima (rose dicerandra) and Litsea

aestivalis (pond spice) are listed in South Carolina as "of regional

concern - threatened." Licania michauxii (gopher apples) is listed as

"of statewide concern - threatened" and Crotonopsis linearis (narrow-

leaved rushfoil) is listed as "of concern - status unresolved."

Threats to Area and Natural Elements: Present threats to the area

are clear cutting and intensive site preparation followed by pine mono-

culture. Potential threats include grazing, sand mining, farming,

residential and industrial development and reservoir construction.

Management Recommendations: The natural forest communities of the

Tillman Sand Ridge were originally dominated by longleaf pine on the

higher ridges and by spruce pine on the intermediate ridges. These

forests have been replaced mostly by planted slash and loblolly pine

stands with trees spaced much closer than they would naturally occur.

This increased canopy cover does not allow for the optimum development of

the herbaceous and shrub layers. In addition, slash and loblolly pine

are not as tolerant of fire as longleaf pine; therefore, prescribed

burning is not done as frequently, particularly during the first ten to

fifteen years after planting. To provide suitable habitat for the rare

and endangered plant species and the gopher tortoise, the use of occa-

sional prescribed fires and thinning pine stands is recommended. It is

also recommended that longleaf pine be planted in the future rather than

slash or loblolly. After a clear-cut, the use of intensive site prepara-

tion techniques is detrimental to some of the rare and endangered plant

species and to the gopher tortoise.

FORKS LAKE BLUFF - Code #3

Site Description: This site is an intermediate-level sand ridge

located along the eastern margin of Forks Lake along the Savannah River.

It is a well drained, dry to mesic terrestrial system. There is a

moderate slope along the eastern boundary which grades into floodplain

forest and a steep slope along the western margin. The plant community

occupying the ridge is a climax southern mixed hardwood forest. This

community is dominated by Quercus laurifolia (laurel oak) and Pinus

glabra (spruce pine) in the overstory and by Ostrya virginiana (hop

hornbeam), Ilex opaca (American holly) and Osmanthus americana (American

olive) in the understory. The soil here is the Buncombe component of the

Buncombe-Santee Association, which is sandy and has a pH of 6.1 to 6.5.

Site Significance: Forks Lake Bluff supports an undisturbed, climax

southern mixed hardwood forest. This is the best known example of this

community type, as defined by Monk (1965, 1968), in South Carolina, and

this is the first formal report of this community in the state. This

site is characterized by a very high diversity of tree and shrub species.

There are 18 tree species and 20 species of shrubs identified on this

site.

Forks Lake Bluff supports a population of Halesia diptera (two-

winged silverbell), a species which is listed as "of statewide concern

threatened" in South Carolina. This is the only recently verified

locality for this species in South Carolina and is the northernmost known

population. This site also contains a small population of Cyperus

tetragonus which is listed as "of concern - status unresolved" (S.C.

Advisory Committee, 1984). In South Carolina, C. tetragonus.is known

only in Jasper and Charleston counties.

Threats to Area and Natural Elements: There are several threats

which are currently impacting Forks Lake Bluff. The first is casual

habitation, such as camping and picnicking; results of this include

litter and the increased possibility of fire. Fire probably would have a

negative impact both on the rare plants and the community itself. An

unimproved road extending along the eastern border of the site has

resulted in the introduction of weedy plant species and has had a severe

impact on the upland to lowland ecotone. Also, an old road at the south

end of the bluff has undergone serious erosion. Erosion also is occur-

ring along the steep western slope adjacent to Forks Lake. Potential

threats include plant removal for forestry or other reasons.

Management Recommendations: According to Monk (1965, 1968), this

community type develops when fire is kept out for a long period of time.

This site is well protected from natural fires due to the 'lake along one

margin and the floodplain forest along the other margin. This site

should not be subjected to prescribed fires. The access road along the

ecotone on the eastern margin is detrimental to the site due to the

destruction of the ecotone, the introduction of weedy species and the

erosion of the south end of the ridge. It is recommended that this road

be blocked off and that the area be allowed to regenerate naturally.

TURTLE ISLAND - Code #4

Site Description: Turtle Island is a barrier island bounded on the

north by the New River, on the west and southwest by the Wright River and

on the east and southeast by the Atlantic Ocean. Of the 1,750 acres,

1,600 acres are salt marsh and 150 acres are upland forest and coastal

beach. The salt marsh is dominated by Spartina alterniflora (smooth

cordgrass) and is on level, very poorly drained Bohicket soils which are

flooded twice daily by saltwater. The upland woods, supporting maritime

forest and maritime shrub thicket communities, occur on the Fripp-

Baratari complex of soils. Both soil types are sandy. The excessively

drained Fripp soils (pH 5.6 to 7.8) occupy the old dune ridges, and the

poorly drained Baratari soils (pH 3.6 to 5.5) are found in the troughs or

depressions between.the ridges. This upland area is small and consists

of two narrow strips of land which parallel each other and the Atlantic

Ocean. Due to the small size of this upland area, the old dune ridges

and depressions are not well differentiated.

Site Significance: Turtle Island is a high quality, undisturbed

barrier island. This site contains a population of Forestiera segregata,

which is listed in South Carolina as "of concern - status unresolved"

(S.C. Advisory Committee, 1984). This is the only known location for

this.species in South Carolina. Litsea aestivalis (pond spice),

Sageretia minutiflora (shell-mound buckthorn) and Potamogeton foliosus

(leafy pondweed) have been reported to occur on Turtle Island; the first

two species are listed in South Carolina as "of regional concern -

threatened" and the latter is listed as "of concern - status unresolved."

Threats to Area or Natural Elements: Currently, the -only actual

threat to Turtle Island is from casual human use of the island, which

presently is resulting in litter and the possibility of fire. Potential

threats include the possibility of oil spills if off-shore drilling is

done.

Management Recommendations: This area is now owned and managed by

the S.C. Department of Wildlife and Marine Resources.

GRAYS SAND HILL - Code #6

Site Description: This site is an elongated sand ridge north of and

parallel to Cypress Creek. The soil here is Blanton fine sand', a deep,

well drained soil with a pH of 4.5 to 6.0. Most of this site has been

cleared and planted in pine, so the natural forest communities are no

longer present.

Site Significance: Grays Sand Hill is a well developed sand ridge

which supports a population of gopher tortoises. The gopher tortoise is

listed as endangered in South Carolina (Rule 123 and Amendments).

Licania michauxii (gopher apples) has previously been found at this site;

this species is listed in South Carolina as "of statewide concern

threatened."

Threats to Site and Management Recommendations: Present threats to

the area are clear-cutting and intensive site preparation followed by

pine monoculture. Potential threats include grazing, sand mining and

farming. The original longleaf pine-turkey oak forest which once occu-

pied this site has been replaced by planted slash and loblolly pine

stands. This has resulted in increased canopy cover and reduced herba-

ceous and shrubby vegetation; it has also reduced suitable habitat and

food for the gopher tortoise. In addition, since slash and loblolly pine

are not as well adapted to fire as longleaf pine, fire is not as frequent

an occurrence as it would be if the original longleaf pine were present.

To provide suitable habitat for the gopher tortoise and to promote the

growth of rare and endangered plant species, the use of prescribed fires

on a two- to three-year cycle and thinning pine stands to create an open

canopy is recommended. The use of intensive site preparation techniques

prior to planting pines is detrimental to the gopher tortoise and to the

associated rare plants.

PINCKNEYA SITE - Code #7

Site Description: This site is part of an elongated depression

which drains into the Great Swamp. The plant community here is referred

to as low woods or branch head vegetation. The soil type is Paxville

fine sandy loam. This soil has a pH of 4.5 to 6.5, is very poorly

drained, and has a medium level content of organic matter.

Site Significance: The most important feature of this site is the

fairly large population of the Georgia fever-bark tree, Pinckneya pubens.

This species is listed in South Carolina as "of statewide concern -

threatened." There is a possibility that Pinckneya was introduced to

this site. The Swiss who settled in Purysburgh moved to this area (now

called Switzerland) because malaria was prevalent in Purysburgh.

Pinckneya was commonly used as a treatment for malaria, hence the common

name Georgia fever-bark tree. It is likely that the Swiss would have

brought along their medicinal plants when they moved to Switzerland.

Threats to Site and Management Recommendations: There are currently

no threats to this site. This area has been subjected to prescribed

fires on an annual or biennial basis. It is recommended that this

management be continued. Late spring and summer fires should be avoided;

this is the time period that Pinckneya flowers and fruits and it appears

to recover slowly from late season fires.

LEUCOTHOE POPULIFOLIA SITE - Code #9

Site Description and Significance: Leucothoe populifolia (Carolina

dog-hobble) occurs in the low woods and swamps of the Long, Branch drain-

age system. To date, it has been found only on the Paxville soil type;

this is a very poorly drained, fine sandy loam1with a pH of 4.5 to 6.5.

Paxville soils are considered to have a medium-level content of organic

matter. L. populifolia is listed in South Carolina as "of' statewide

concern - threatened." The Long Branch system is the only- verified

locality for this species in South Carolina; in the United, States it is

known only in Florida and South Carolina. This drainage system is

suitable habitat for Cliftonia monophylla (black titi), which was

documented in this area in the early 1900s. Cliftonia has, not been

relocated in South Carolina and is presented listed as "of concern

status unresolved."

Threats to Site and Manageme t Recommendations: There are few

threats at this time to the known populations of Leucothoe populifolia.

In one area the site has been cut over, and another area has been bisect-

ed by a power line right-of-way. However, in both of these areas, L.

populifolia has come back vigorously. Potential threats include inten-

sive site preparation associated with forestry and draining or channeliz-

ing the Long Branch system.

HODGINS HILL - Code #15

Site Descri2tion and Significance: Hodgins Hill is a series of

small sand hills or intermediate-level sand ridges in the Savannah River

Swamp. The soil here is Buncombe sand, which is excessively drained and

has a pH of 6.1 to 6.5. This system of sand ridges probably supported a

spruce pine-laurel oak forest or perhaps a southern mixed hardwood forest

in the past. The ridges were logged some time ago and are now charac-

terized by scattered spruce pines and laurel oaks with large patches of

open sand. This site supports two elements of concern, Crotonopsis

linearis (narrow-leaved rushfoil) and the gopher tortoise. Crotonopsis

is listed in South Carolina as "of concern - status unresolved." The

gopher tortoise is listed as endangered in South Carolina (Rule 123-150

and Amendments).

Threats to Site and Management Recommendations: There are no

immediate threats to this site; the present property owners are aware of

the elements of concern and are developing appropriate management

guidelines.

COOSAWHATCHIE RIVER BLUFF - Code #5

Site Description: This site is located just south of the Hampton

County line in the Possum Corner area of northern Jasper County. It is

south of and parallel to the Coosawhatchie River. The soils occupying

this site are Blanto n fine sand which grades into Paxville fine, sandy

loam toward the base of the slope. This is a mesic terrestrial system

characterized by moderate to steep slopes ranging from 10 ]percent to 40

percent to an almost vertical drop in places. The bluff is up to 30 feet

tall and 100 feet wide. This site is characterized by downhill seepage

and supports a mixed mesophytic hardwood forest dominated 'by beech. This

grades into a pine-oak forest at the top of the slope and into low woods

and floodplain forest at the base of the slope.

Site Significance: This is an undisturbed, high quality, climax

seepage bluff or slope forest dominated by beech and magnolia. This site

is characterized by a high diversity of tree and shrub species and is the

best known example of this community type in Jasper County. The two most

significant aspects of this site are its natural seepage and climax

condition. Based on the size of the beech trees, this site has been

undisturbed for at least 150 years and probably longer. Factors contrib-

uting to this are: (1) It is too steep to cultivate, (2) it is too wet to

burn except in times of extreme drought, and (3) the swamp on the north

and east affords much protection from fire@

Threats to Area or Natural Elements: At this time, there are two

actual threats to the bluff. The first is runoff and erosion due to the

steepness of the slope, disturbance of the buffer of pine-oak woods at

the top of the slope, and the proximity of agricultural fields. The

other actual threat to the site is the presence of exotic animals, such

as feral pigs. There are two potential threats to this site; fire and

sand mining. There is an abandoned sand quarry on a small portion of the

site.

Management Recommendations: It is recommended that the buffer zone

at the slope remain intact and be expanded, if possible. This site

should be protected from fire. Casual use of some portions of the

steepest parts of the bluff by people and animals is causing some minor

erosion. The trail should be re-routed so that it does not lead directly

down the slope.

BALDUINA SITE - Code #8

Site DescriRtion and Significance: Balduina uniflora (single-

flowered balduina) occurs along the margins of planted pine flatwoods and

roadsides between Pineland and Gillisonville. It occurs on Albany,

Pelham and Ocilla loamy fine sands, which are poorly drained and strongly

acid in reaction. Balduina requires an open canopy and probably was much

more widespread prior to the advent of pine monoculture; it now occurs

along the margins of areas it probably once covered. Balduina uniflora

is listed as "of concern - status unresolved" in South Carolina.

Threats to Site and Management Recommendations: The natural habitat

of Balduina uniflora is savannahs and open pine flatwoods. The greatest

threat to this species is from drainage and the development of pine

plantations. Baulduina uniflora probably was much more abundant at some

time in the past and has responded to these pressures of land use by

moving to the margins of sites it probably once covered. Maintenance of

the highway margins and ditches through fires promotes the growth of this

plant. Mowing of the highway right-of-way would be detrimental to this

species during the time it flowers and sets fruit. Therefore, it is

recommended that mowing should not take place during July, August and

September.

S.C. 46 SAVANNAH Code #11

Site Description and Significance: This site is a broad, low,

nearly level, marshy, savannah-like area which was drained. and cut over

many years ago. It occurs on Argent fine, sandy loam which is poorly

drained and has a pH of 3.6 to 6.0. This site supports a population of

Canna flaccida (golden canna lily), which is listed as "of' statewide

concern - threatened" in South Carolina. Canna is locally abundant in

the lowest, wettest part of the site which is flooded in the spring.

Based on observations of the surrounding area, it appears the portion of

the site on which Canna occurs was once a gum pond. This site also

supports a high diversity of typical savannah species.

JASPER COUNTY PARK - Code #12

Site Description and Significance: This area is the proposed site

for the Jasper County Park. -It is a highly disturbed area; most of the

land in the general vicinity has been used for fill material and the

natural drainage into Bob Dam Swamp has been partially blocked. This

site lies between a large borrow pit and an artificial marsh area.

Polygala nana (low milkwort) has been found in the longleaf pine-bracken

fern woods on this site. Despite numerous site visits, P. nana has not

been relocated; it is known only on two other localities in the state and

is ephemeral at those sites. P. nana is listed as "of statewide concern

- threatened" in South Carolina. After many field surveys and a review

of topographic maps, this site appears to be wholly altered and is no

longer considered to be of local significance.

ROBERTVILLE SAVANNAH - Code #29

Site Description and Significance: This site is an open, disturbed

savaanah-like area. It is low, level and occurs on Lynchburg loamy, fine

sand; this soil is somewhat poorly drained and acidic. This site is

considered to be of local significance because it supports a small

population of Eulophia ecristata (false coco). This species is currently

under federal status review (U.S.D.I. 1983).

PURYSBURG PONDS - Code #33

Site Description and Significance: This site is a disturbed,

recently cut-over, pine flatwoods area. The soil type is the Okeetee

component of the Okeetee-Eulonia Association. This site is named after

the two gum ponds which occur on this site. It is considered to be of

local significance because of documented reports of the presence of

Anthaenantia rufa (purple silkyscale). This species is listed in South

Carolina as "of concern - status unresolved."

CALVARY CHURCH SAVANNAH - Code #34

Site Description and Significance: This site is a pine flatwoods/

savannah area. The soil type is the Okeetee component of the Argent-

Okeetee Association. The site has been moderately to highly disturbed.

Certain portions have been used for borrow and sand pits. This area is

dominated by longleaf pine and toothache grass and supports a high

diversity of herbaceous species. This site is considered to be of local

significance because of documented reports of the presence of

Anthaenantia rufa (purple silkyscale), which is listed as "of concern -

status unresolved" in South Carolina.

Consideration of Energy Related Impacts

Only a few of the significant natural areas in Jasper County are

potentially threatened by energy-related development. No actual threats

are known at present.

There is only one area of Jasper County which is known to have a

significant deposit of peat (Cohen et al., 1982). This deposit is

adjacent to the Savannah River, south of Interstate Highway 95 and north

of U.S. Highway 17. Most of this land is part of the Savannah National

Wildlife Refuge and, as such, is protected from peat mining by the

federal government.

Off-shore drilling for oil or gas along the Georgia or South

Carolina coast would greatly increase the potential for oil spills. An

oil spill reaching Turtle Island would have a severe negative impact on

Turtle Island, particularly on the salt marshes and other low-lying

areas.

Reservoir construction on the Savannah River for the generation of

hydroelectric power, although unlikely, could have a negative impact on

the Tillman Sand Ridge and on Forks Lake Bluff. The sandhills and ridges

could be flooded forming mesic habitats. Reservoir construction also

would encourage residential development.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

During the course of this study, many individuals assisted me with

the selection of sites, technical advice and assistance in the field. I

would like to express my appreciation and thanks for this help to the

following people: Douglas Rayner and John Nelson, S.C. Heritage Trust

Program, Columbia; William Melven, Soil Conservation Service, Columbia;

Charles Holland and Harvey Lucas, Soil Conservation Service, Ridgeland;

Jim Cope, S.C. Land Resources Conservation Commission, Ridgeland; Walter

F. Baxter, Jr., S.C. Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Ridgeland;

Curtis Smart., Ridgeland; N.B. Bryan, Levy Station; Ed Floyd, Okeetee

Club, Switzerland; Bill Mathis, Continental Can Corporation; and Wallace

Roberts and Gene Kodoma, Westvaco Corporation.

PERTINENT LITERATURE

Barry, J.M. 1980. Natural Vegetation of South Carolina. University
of South Carolina Press. Columbia, S.C.

Cohen, A.D., M. Holmes, M.,Andrejko, D. Corvinus, M. Tisdale and T.J.
Vigerstad. 1982. Peat Resource Estimation in South Carolina. Final
Report (Year 2). South Carolina Energy Research Institute.
Columbia, S.C.

Cooke, C.W. 1936. Geology of the Coastal Plain of South Carolina.
U.S. Geological Survey Bull. No. 867.

Franz, R. and R.J. Bryant. 1980. The Dilemma of the Gopher Tortoise
- Is There a Solution? Proc. First Annual Meeting of the Gopher
Tortoise Council. Auburn University. Auburn, Alabama.

Gaddy, L.L. 1982. The Floristics of Three South Carolina Pine
Savannahs. Castanea 47:393-402.

Huey, G.E. 1975. Upper New River Watershed Project, Beaufort and Jasper
Counties, South Carolina. Final Environmental Impact. Statement.
U.S.D.A. Columbia, S.C.

Mellinger, E.O. and M.B. Mellinger. 1961. Plants of the Savannah
National Wildlife Refuge. Unpub. Mss. Hardeeville, S.C.

Monk, C.D. 1965. Southern Mixed Hardwood Forest of Northcentral
Florida. Ecol. Monogr. 35:335-354.

. 1968. Successional and Environmental Relationships of the
Forest Vegetation of North Central Florida. Amer. Mid. Nat.
79:441-457.

Quarterman, E. and C. Keever. 1962. Southern Mixed Hardwood Forest:
Climax in the Southeastern Coastal Plain, U.S.A. Ecol. Monogr.
32:167-185.

Radford, A.E., H.E. Ahles and C.R. Bell. 1968. Manual of' the Flora of
the Carolinas. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill,
N.C.

Rayner, D.A. and S.C. Advisory Committee. 1979. Native Vascular Plants
Endangered, Threatened, or Otherwise in Jeopardy in South Carolina.
Museum Bull. No. 4. S.C. Museum Commission. Columbia, S.C.

Small, J.K. 1933. Manual of the Southeastern Flora. University of
North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, N.C.

South Carolina Advisory Committee. 1984. Preliminary Revised List of
Threatened and Endangered Plants. Unpublished Report. S.C.
Heritage Trust Program, Columbia, S.C.

Stalter, R. 1973. The Flora of Turtle Island. Castanea 38:35-37.

Stuck, W.M. 1980. Soil Survey of Beaufort and Jasper Counties, South
Carolina. National Cooperative Soil Survey. U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service.

U.S.D.I., Fish and Wildlife Service. 1983. Endangered and Threatened
Wildlife and Plants; Supplement to Review of Plant Taxa Listing;
Proposed Rule. Federal Register 48(229):53640-53670.

1984. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants. 50CFR
17.11 and 17.12. Publications Unit, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Washington, D.C.

APPENDIX I

Jasper County - Sites Surveyed as Potential Natural Areas

F-1 Significant Natural Areas

1. Okeetee Savannah
2. Tillman Sand Ridge
3. Forks Lake Bluff
4. Turtle Island
5. Coosawhatchie River Bluff
6. Grays Sand Hill
7. Pinckneya Site
8. Balduina Site
9. Leucothoe populifolia Site
11. S.C. 46 Savannah
15. Hodgins Hill
29. Robertville Savannah
33. Purysburgh Ponds
34. Calvary Church Savannah
0 Non-Significant Natural Areas
10. Horse Bluff
12. Jasper bounty Park
13. Turkey Pond
15. Hodgins Lake
16. Monkey John Swamp
17. New Landing
18. Bear Savannah
19. Red Bluff Plantation
20. Cypress Creek Sand Ridge
21. Union Creek
22. Snooks and Little Snooks Lakes
23. Chelsea Savannah
24. Limehouse Savannah
25. Gillisonville Savannah
26. Marsh Islands
27. Lepuropetalon Site
28. Black Swamp
30. Savannah River Bottomlands
31. Bacopa cyclophylla Site
32. Stokes Bluff Hill
35. South Okeetee Oak Savannah
36. Upper South Okeetee Savannah
37. Great Swamp
38. Pocotaligo Depressions
39. Gordoaia Site*
40. Gillisonville Sand Ridge
41. Jasper Flatwoods
42. Pycnanthemum nudum Site
43. Hypericum adpressum Site

+ 0

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)RIDGE

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+

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+ +

34
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+
+ +

GENERAL HIGHWAY MAP

x
JASPER COUNTY YS"
4
SOUTH CAROLINA
PREPARED BY THE
31 - le
S. C. DEPT. OF HIGHWAYS 8 PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
In IN COOPERATION WITH THE 0
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION + +
0
c FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION
4 SCALE

SA
0.
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c
1969

CO NTI POPUIATION CINsus
C
111TI REAINS011AREMUS

Inventory of Botanical Natural Areas
in Colleton County, South Carolina

Douglas A. Rayner
Nongame, Endangered Species
Heritage Trust Section

september, 1984

Equal Opportunity Agency

S.C. Wildlide and Marine Resources Department
Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
Jefferson C. Fuller,jr., Director

Inventory of Botanical Natural Areas

In Colleton County, South Carolina

Douglas A. Rayner
Nongame, Endangered Species
Heritage Trust Section

september, 1984

Equal Opportunity Agency

S.C. Wildlife and Marine Resources Department
Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
Jefferson C. Fuller,jr., Director

'Ilk

FINAL REPORT

INVENTORY OF BOTANNICAL NATURAL AREAS

COLLETON COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA

SEPTEMBER, 1984

DOUGLAS A. RAYNER, PH.D.

S.C. WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT

This project was made possible by a Coastal Energy
Impact Program Grant, established under the Coastal Zone
Management Act of 1972, as amended, and administered by
the Office of Coastal Zone Management, NOAA.

This project was prepared for the Office of the
Governor, Division of Natural Resources.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ................... 9.......... * ......................... P. 96

METHODS ............................................................. P. 100

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION .............................................. p. 101

General Comments ............................................... p. 101
Criteria Used to Determine Site Significance ................... p. 109
Listing of Proposed Botanical Natural Areas .................... p. 110
Colleton County Cowbane Preserve ............................... p. 111
Otter Islands .................................................. p. 113
Ashepoo Natural Area ........................................... p. 115
Edisto Beach Natural Area ...................................... p. 117
Snuggedy Swamp ................................................. p. 120
Edisto Sink Holes .............................................. p. 123
Koger Intermittent Pond ........................................ p. 126
Big Survey Natural Area ........................................ p. 128
Pond Spice Natural Area ........................................ p. 130
Sandy Run Carolina Bay ......................................... p. 132
Pond Cypress Natural Area ...................................... p. 133
Thalia dealbata ................................................ p. 136
Energy-Related-Threats to Significant Natural Areas ............ p. 137

LITERATURE CITED ............... *....... oe .........* ................. p. 139

APPENDIX I: Colleton County Highway Map with Locations of
Significant and Non-Significant Sites .......................... p. 141

APPENDIX II: Personal Contacts ..................................... p. 144

INTRODUCTION

Colleton County is in the southeastern portion of the outer Coastal Plain

of South Carolina. It is bounded on the south by the Atlantic Ocean and on

the north by Bamberg County. The Salkehatchie and Combahee rivers form its

western boundary and separate it from Hampton and Beaufort counties. The

Edisto River forms the eastern boundary, and separates Colleton County from

Dorchester and Charleston counties, except for Edisto Beach which was annexed

to Colleton County from Charleston Coun ty in 1975. The total land area of

Colleton County is about 652,600 acres or 1,051 square miles, including Edisto

Beach. Of this total about 17,200 acres are in state ownership and about 30

acres are in federal ownership. The.county is rather sparsely populated; the

Colleton County Chamber of Commerce estimates the 1984 population to be about

32,500. Walterboro is the largest city in the county and is the county seat.

It has a population of 27,600 (Stuck, 1982).

Colleton County was first settled by Europeans in 1663. In that year

King Charles II of England granted to eight lord proprietors the area now

encompassing most of Georgia and the Carolinas. Colleton County was named

after Sir John Colleton, one of the original lord proprietors. The original

Colleton County consisted of three parishes. The present boundaries of the

county, excluding Edisto Beach, are the same as those of one original parish,

St. Bartholomew (Lander and Ackerman, 1973; Glover, 1969).

Furs and skins were probably the first commercially important products

from Colleton County. A series of crops soon supplanted wildlife products as

the major commercial product, beginning with rice in 1680, indigo in 1739 and

long-staple sea island cotton around 1785. Indigo completely disappeared as a

commercial crop by 1799, and cotton dropped in importance with the onslaught

of the boll weevil around 1813. The hurricane of 1893 destroyed most of the

water-control structures necessary for the production of rice, and this crop

has never regained its prior prominence. Agriculture today is much more

diversified than in the past. Corn, soybeans, tobacco and small grains are

all major crops. Raising beef cattle and hogs are significant enterprises.

Forest products also make a major contribution to the econonW of the county

(Stuck, 1982). The contribution of forest products is likely to increase in

the future because of recent efforts to intensify forest management practices.

Important in this regard are efforts to ditch and drain large areas of poorly

and very poorly drained soils. Industrial development has increased in the

past two decades, but the county remains one of the less-industrialized

counties in the state.

According to the Soil Survey for Colleton County (Stuck, 1982), major

land uses are approximately as follows: cultivated crops, 15 percent;

pasture, 5 percent; woodland, 70 percent, salt or brackish marsh, 6 percent;

and urban or built-up land, less than 5 percent. According to the South

Carolina Soil and Water Conservation Needs Inventory (USDA, 1970:1, more than

237,000 acres of potentially good cropland was in woodland and about 18,000

acres was in pasture in 1967. Soil drainage is considered the major

management need on much of the acreage used or potentially useable as cropland

or pasture.

Topographic relief in Colleton County generally is not marked. Most of

the county is nearly level, dotted with shallow depressions, and dissected by

shallow drainages. Ridges are low, and slopes are gentle. Elevation ranges

from 0 to 134 feet. Eleven percent of the soils are predominantly mucky and

clayey soils that are flooded.

Colleton County is entirely within the outer portion of the Coastal Plain

Province of South Carolina. The outer Coastal Plain consists of nearly level,

unconsolidated sands, clays and soft limestones. According to Cooke (1936),

seven coastal terraces, abandoned or former shorelines, have been discovered

along the Atlantic coast. Four of these coastal terraces and part of a fifth

are found in Colleton County including: the Pamplico terrace, 0 to 25 feet

elevation; the Talbot terrace, 25 to 42 feet elevation; the Penholoway

terrace, 42 to 70 feet elevation, the Wicomico terrace 70 to 100 feet

elevation, and part of the Sunderland terrace, 100 to 170 feet elevation.

Part of three geologic formations are included in Colleton County. The

southern fourth of the county and approximately south of U.S. 17, consists of

sand, clay, and shells of Pleistocene to Recent ages (less than one million

years old). Most of the county, except for a narrow band adjacent to Bamberg

County and the northwestern half of Dorchester County, consists of Waccamaw,

Duplin and Hawthorn Formations of Miocene and younger ages (less than 25

million years old). A narrow band adjacent to Bamberg and northwestern

Dorchester County consists of Cooper Marl and Flint River Formations of

Oligocene age (25-36 million years old).

The vegetation of Colleton County, as in most counties in the outer

coastal plain, is dominated by pine flatwoods and swamp forest. Virtually no

original growth timber remains in the county. Small, wet depressions,

generally less than ten acres, are extremely common. Another community that

is probably more extensive here than in any other coastal plain county is

marshy peat land. Although it appears to be relatively undisturbed, Cohen et

al. (1982) indicate that drainage has been altered in the last 100 years or so

in Snuggedy Swamp, the most extensive of these peat lands.

The vegetation of Colleton County probably can be described briefly and

most effectively by indicating which plant communities are not present or are

poorly represented in the county. Pine savannas, mesic mixed hardwood

forests, Carolina bay, and well-developed longleaf pine-turkey oak forests are

poorly represented. Marl outcrops and Atlantic white cedar forests are not

present in the county.

Methods

Potentially unique or unusual botanical natural areas were selected by:

(a) examining available soil, topographic, and geologic maps, (b) studying

black and white and color infra-red aerial photos, (c) reviewing pertinent

scientific literature, and (d) consulting with knowledgeable individuals and

organizations, particularly the S.C. Heritage Trust Program, the S.C. Coastal

Council and the local Soil Conservation Service office. Maps and photos were

searched for: (1) unusual soil types or combinations of soils; (2) areas of

distinct, abrupt or unusual topography; (3) distinctive community types such

as Carolina bays, grass-sedge wet depressions, natural ponds, savannas.and

pocosins; (4) large, undisturbed areas; (5) areas of mature, old-growth

forest; and (6) potential habitat for rare, threatened or endangered plants.

Aerial reconnaissance using fixed-wing aircraft was used to (a) screen

potential natural areas and select those worthy of preliminary ground survey,

(b) locate additional potential natural areas, and (c) determine boundaries of

significant natural areas. Preliminary ground surveys were made of most

potential natural areas identified by aerial reconnaissance.

All primary and secondary highways and many unimproved dirt roads were

traveled in an attempt to locate additional potential natural areas.

Areas selected for preliminary or intensive on-site investigations were

studied using methods and formats presently employed by the S.C. Heritage

Trust Program. For-potentially unique areas, an On-site Data Collection Form

was completed and, when appropriate, Community Survey Forms, Special Floral

Element Data Sheets and Special Physical Element Data Sheets were also filled

out. Completed forms for all significant natural areas are on file with the

S.C. Heritage Trust Program in Columbia.

100

Results and Discussion

General Comments:

Appendix I gives the name, code number and location on a Colleton County

General Highway Map for all sites, significant and non-significant , that were

evaluated as potential natural areas for this study. Prior to this study, the

S.C. Heritage Trust Program had in its files for Colleton County at least some

information on the following areas or rare plant species: outer Otter Island

(site 101), Pine Island (site 111), Deer Creek (site 84), the Ashepoo River,

the Colleton County Cowbane Preserve (site 105), the Edisto Island Natural

Area (site 116), the Ashepoo Natural Area (site 113), the Edisto Nature Trail

(site 119), the Edisto Sink Holes (site 5), the Bear Island Game Management

Area, Pieris phillyreifolia (climbing fetterbush) and Thalia dealbata

(powdery-thalia, site 114). Most of these sites were studied in greater

detail for this study, and sites 5, 101, 105, 113, 114 and 116 are recommended

here for consideration as significant natural areas.

A review of pertinent literature revealed only a few additional potential

natural areas. Radford et al. (1968) included Colleton County in the known

distribution of Lindera melissaefolium, Jove's fruit; unfortunately, no

herbarium specimen or other source of information was found that provided even

general locality information. Ballington et al. (1980) report from Colleton

County the first collection in South Carolina of Vaccinium ashei (rabbit-eye

blueberry) and the first Colleton County locality for Vaccinium crassifolium

(creeping blueberry); these reports provided the basis for searches for

several potentially significant pine flatwoods communities (i.e., sites 120

and 121). Staub (1977) studied the geomorphology, sedimentology, and

depositional history of the Snuggedy Swamp; part of this area (site 88) is

recommended here for consideration as a significant natural area.

101

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife service (USDI, 1981) recommended the Ashepoo-

Combahee-Edisto River Basin, essentially all of Colleton County south of U.S.

Highway 17, as a "significant wildlife resource area." Three areas

recommended here for consideration as significant natural areas are within the

ACE Basin (Ashepoo Natural Area, Otter Islands, and Snuggedy Swamp). I agree

that the entire ACE Basin should be considered a "significant wildlife

resource area.11

Communications with knowledgeable individuals (Appendix II) resulted in

recommendations on numerous potential natural areas, including sites 10, 11,

25, 43, 48, 74, 82, 84, 101, 111, 115, 117 and 118. Most of these sites were

surveyed either by a fixed-wing aircraft or on the ground: Calfpen Swamp (site

74) was surveyed from the air but not on the ground; a ground survey is

needed. Many of the personal contacts recommended large river swamps and

barrier islands as the best potential sites of significant natural areas in

Colleton County. Otter Islands (site 101) is recommended here for considera-

tion as a significant natural area.

Colleton County Soil Survey maps (Stuck, 1982) and infra-red aerial

photos (Charleston office of the S.C. Coastal Council) were the major sources

of new sites to be surveyed as potential significant natural areas. Topo-

graphic maps, for two reasons, proved to be much less useful. First, topo-

graphic relief in Colleton County generally is not marked, and second, most of

the county is covered by older, less-detailed, 1:62,500 maps rather than

1:24,000 maps. Maps were searched for: (1) unusual soil types, or combi-

nations of soils; (2) areas of distinct, abrupt or unusual topography; (3)

distinctive community types such as Carolina bays, grass-sedge-dominated wet
depressions, natural ponds, savannas a@d pocosins; (4) large, undisturbed

areas, and (5) areas of mature, old-growth forest. More than 75 potential

102

sites were selected in this manner. Of course, the quality of this

information is not high, and only a small percentage of the areas, found in

this manner could be expected to be significant. Big Survey Natural Area

(site 67), Koger Intermittent Pond (site 34), Pond Cypress Natural Area (site

59) and Sandy Run Carolina Bay (site 60) are recommended here for, considera-

tion as significant natural areas.

Three aerial surveys using a fixed-wing aircraft were made during May,

1983. These surveys were useful in screening potential natural areas and

selecting those worthy of preliminary ground surveys. Of the 43 sites

surveyed from the air, 17 were found to have disturbances or other factors

that precluded the need for ground surveys. The most common disturbances were

recent lumbering activities, drainage ditches, and roads. Some of the largest

tracts of pineland and swampland were found to have been recently clearcut

(i.e. Burden Swamp (site 65), St. John's Swamp (site 56) and flatwoods on

alpin fine sand (site 68).

Aerial surveys were of some limited value in locating additional

potential natural areas. Pond Spice Natural Area (site 106) was located

during aerial surveys and is here recommended for consideration as a

significant natural area.

A few interesting sites were found by driving along state and county

highways and accessible dirt roads (i.e. Cteniwn savanna along S-24 (site 107)

and Pine flatwoods-pocosi n along S-456). This method probably would have been

more useful if the dirt roads through many of the larger areas had not been

gated; no attempt was made to obtain the necessary gate keys unless a

prev-iously identified, potential natural area was along one of these roads.

103

A primary focus of the field surveys was for potential habitats of rare,

threatened or endangered plants known in Colleton County or that could occur

in the county if appropriate habitat was present. Field surveys were made

specifically for the following species, Agrimonia incisa, Amaranthus pumilus,

Carex chapmanii, Ilex amelanchier, Leucothoe populifolia, Lindera

melissaefolium, Litsea aestivalis, Lobelia boykinii, Oxypolis canbyi, Pieris

phillyreifolia, Sageretia minu tiflora and Trillium pusillum. All areas

searched for these species are not included in Appendix I; generally, only the

best potential sites are included. To include all sites even briefly searched

would make the map in Appendix I all but unreadable. The focus of specific

search efforts for each of these species is indicated in the followng brief

narrative.

Small, wet depressions are widespread throughout Colleton County.

Grass-sedge wet depressions are known to be potential habitat for at least 20

rare, threatened or endangered plants, including Oxypolis canbyi, Ptlimnium

nodosum, Fimbristylis perpusi-lla, Rhexia aristosa, Myriophyllum laxum, Croton

elliottii, Litsea aestivalis, Lobelia boykinii, Scleria baldwinii, Echinodorus

parvulus Coreopsis rosea, Ludwigia spathulata, Habenaria lacera, Utricularia

olivacea, U. floridana, Rhynchospora tracyi, R. inundata, Sagittaria

isoetiformis, Amphicarpum muhlenbergianum and Hypericum adpressum; the first

six of these are under federal status review for listing as potentially

endangered or threatened species. For these reasons, grass-sedge wet

depressions were a major focus of this survey. More than 35 were selected for

additional survey during this study, and 24 were actually surveyed. Three of

these, Pond Spice Natural Area (site 106), Koger Intermittent Pond (site 34),

and Pond Cypress Natural Area (site 59), are recommended here for considera-

tion as significant natural areas.

104

Searches for Oxypolis canbyi, Canby's cowbane, probably were more

extensive than for any other species. Canby's cowbane is found in open bogs

and grass-sedge wet depressions. The known locality (site 105) was surveyed

in some detail. More than 24 wet depressions were searched, and a five mile

radius around the known site was searched thoroughly for potential habitat.

Eight additional populations of the closely related species, Oxypolis,
,filiformis., were found, but no additional populations of 0. canbyi were

discovered.

Agrimonia incisa, incised groovebur, was found in Edisto State Park by

Dr. Richard Porcher in 1972. This site is recommended here for consideration

as a significant natural area (Edisto Beach Natural Area) even though it

technically is in Charlestion County; this area is in a part of Edisto Island

that probably will soon be annexed to Colleton County. Although A. incisa

typically is found in dry pine flatwoods, the two extant South Carolina

populations are in maritime forests adjacent to brackish marshes. Similar

areas searched specifically for this species include sites 96, 100, 101, 111,

115 and 118. No additional populations of this species were found.

Amaranthus pumilus, coast pigweed, is under federal status review (USDI,

1983) and is found on sand dunes of barrier islands. Sites 101 and Ill were

searched unsuccessfully for this species.

Carex chapmanii, Chapman's sedge, presently is under federal status

review. It is found in well-drained hummock woodland areas, typically

dominated by beech, magnolia, maple, oaks and pine. Sites 29, 57 and 72 were

searched unsuccessfully.

105

Ilex amelanchier, sarvis holly, is presently under federal status review.

It typically is found on the riverbanks and floodplains of blackwater streams.

Bridge crossings over blackwater streams are ideal places to look. Most of

the bridge crossings over the Edisto and Big Salkehatchie rivers north of U.S.

17 were searched unsuccessfully for this species.

Leucothoe populifolia, Carolina dog-hobble, recently has been found in

some abundance in Jasper County along small streams over Paxville fine, sandy

loam soils. The best concentrations of these soils, in the vicinity of

Islandton and Snider's Crossroads, were surveyed without success.

Radford et al. (1968) include Colleton County in the distribution of

Lindera melissaefolium, Jove's fruit, but no herbarium specimen or other

source has been found that provides general locality information. Since the

Berkeley County populations are almost all associated with lime sinks,

searches in Colleton County focused on the uppermost part of the county, the

part underlain by Cooper marl. Some searches also were made in the vicinity

of Jacksonboro. All searches were unsuccessful.

Litsea aestivalis, pond spice, is found in and around grass-sedge wet

depressions. Of the 24 wet depressions searched during this study, two were

found to contain small populations of pond spice. Both sites containing pond

spice, sites 34 and 106, are recommended here for consideration as significant

natural areas.

Lobelia boykinii, Boykins' lobelia, presently is under federal status

review. Boykin's lobelia typically is found in wet, pond cypress savannahs.

Sites 48, 39 and numerous pond cypress domes west of Cross Swamp were searched

for this species. This species was only found at site 49, and this site is

recommended here for consideration as a significant natural area.

106

Climbing fetterbush, Pieris phillyreifolia, has a most unusual growth

habit; it climbs pond cypress by growing under the bark and periodically

sending out leafy, lateral branches. An herbarium specimen collected by

Robert K. Godfrey in June, 1969, reports this species from "swami), Moselle

Swamp, west of Islandton." Dr. Godfrey was contacted at Florida State

University, but he was unable to provide more specific locality information.

Extensive searches were made in Mosell e Swamp, Cross Swamp, cypress domes west

of Cross Swamp and in other areas where pond cypress was encountered (i.e.

sites 48, 59 and west of site 107). No climbing fetterbush was found.

Sageretia minutiflora, shell-mound buckthorn, is typically found in

association with Indian shell mounds and other upland areas with soils

displaying high concentrations of old shell materials. Herman Crosby, Jr.

carried me by boat to what he considered the best shell bluffs in the county

(sites 101, 118 and several additional unmarked sites). Sageretia was found

at Ashe Island and on one of the small hummock islands associated with the

Otter Islands. It also was found at site 115 and was already known to occdr

at the Edisto Beach Natural Area.

Trillium pusillum, dwarf or Carolina trillium, is under federal status

review and is found typically in South Carolina in mesic hummocks in swamp

forests. It typically is found on soils with a circumneutral pH. On the

recommendation of Warren Stuck, soil scientist with the Soil Conservation

Service, areas in the vicinity of Jacksonboro were searched (especially sites

72 and 119). Areas also were searched in the upper part of the county, the

part underlain by Cooper marl (especially site 29 and woodlands near Green

Pond Church). All searches were unsuccessful.

107

An examination of species lists from Colleton County and adjacent

counties prior to this stuo indicated that very few typical or rare savanna

species or species associated with rich, mesic woods (typically north slopes

dominated by beech) had been found in Colleton County. Since these community

types are often the richest and most diverse communities found in coastal

counties, extra efforts were made to locate these community types in Colleton

County. A few interesting areas with some typical savanna species were found.

A few rare savanna plants, including Lobelia boykinni and Aristida

iciformis, were found, and two areas harboring at least some savanna species

are recommended here for consideration as locally significant natural areas

(Big Survey Natural Area and Pond Cypress Natural Area). However, since none

of the savanna areas that were located were of statewide or national signi-

ficance, the savanna searches were disappointing.

The best of the rich, mesic woods located are on hummocks that are at

least partially surrounded by swamp forest (i.e. sites 73 and 29). These

areas are quite mature. However, species diversity is not especially high,

and no unusual species are present. The undisturbed nature of both areas

changed during the course of this study; unimproved roads recently were cut

into both areas.

Colleton County has, in the Big Salkehatchie, Little Salkehatchie, and

Edisto rivers, some of the most extensive and least-disturbed blackwater

swamps in the coastal plain. No rare plant species or old-growth, uncut swamp

forest are present, but the present swamp has good stands of cypress, tupelo

and other swamp species. Ditching and draining, however, are minimal and the

swamps, for the most part, are functioning as swamps should. They are

functioning in the storage and discharge of fresh water; they dampen the

effects of severe floods. They improve water quality by trapping nutrients

108

and immobilizing pollutants such as herbicides, pesticides and metals; and

they are highly productive systems for a variety of fauna and flora (Wharton

et al., 1982). These blackwater swamps are significant ecological resources,

and every effort should be made to keep them intact and functioning.

Criteria Used in Determining Site Significance:

The S.C. Heritage Trust Program bases determinations of site! significance

on: (1) the uniqueness of the elements (i.e. plants, animals, plant communi-

ties, animal communities or geological features) that constitute a site and

(2) a site's natural quality (i.e. lack of disturbance, maturity, size, etc.)

in comparison with similar sites. A site that harbors an element or elements

that are rare, threatened or endangered, throughout their entire range is

potentially of national significance; this potential is realized if the site

also is a high quality example of the type in question. A site that harbors a
nationally-significant element is only of statewide significance if the site

is a poor example of the type in question. For example, Canby's cowbane is a

plant species that is rare and endangered throughout its range. A population

that is found in a natura 1, undisturbed habitat would be nationally

significant. A population found in a roadside ditch would still be signifi-

cant (statewide significance), but it would not be nationally significant.

A site that contains elements that are not rare throughout -their range,

but are rare in South Carolina is of statewide significance if it also is a

high-quality example of the type in question. A site's significance, once

again, is lowered if it is not a high-quality example of the type in question.

A site that harbors elements that are rare locally in South Carolina is

considered of local significance if it also is a high-quality example of its

type. If it is not a high-quality example, then it is not significant.

109

Proposed Botanical Natural Areas in Colleton County, South Carolina

National Significance:

Colleton County Cowbane Preserve (site 105) - 12 acres

Otter Islands (site 101) - 2100 acres

Ashepoo Natural Area (site 113) - 400 acres

State Significance:

Edisto Beach Natural Area (site 112) - 1-2 acres

Edisto Sink Holes (site 5) - 200 acres

Koger Intermittent Pond (site 34) - 6-8 acres

Snuggedy Swamp (site 88) - 2300 acres

Local Significance:

Big Survey Natural Area (site 67) - 30-50 acres

Pond Spice Natural Area (site 106)- 2 acres

Pond Cypress Natural Area (site 59) - 6 acres

Sandy Run Carolina Bay (site 60) - 10 acres

Thalia dealbata (site 114) - 1-2 acres

110

Colleton County Cowbane Preserve

,Site Description
This site is a swamp tupelo-cypress-slash pine swamp on Rains sandy loam

near the upper reaches of a small, broad drainage. It has a relatively

closed canopy and a thick shrub zone, except in small openings that are

scattered through the area. It is in these small openings that herbaceous

species are best represented, and it is here that the very rare Canby's

cowbane is found. Herbaceous associates include Sarracenia flava,

Rhynchospora sp., Erianthus, strictus, Woodwardia virginica, Juncus repens,

Solidago microcephala and Erianthus sp. The area merges into a wetter

cypress swamp to the south and drier, denser pocosin to the east. Lands to

the north, east and west have been cut over recently. Very little Oxypolis

filiformis is found in the area, but is very abundant just north across S.C.

Highway 63. Very little 0. canbyi occurs north of S.C. Highway 63.

In 1982, 1 1/2 years after the site burned, Melissa Johnston counted over

500 stems of Oxypolis canbyi, usually in clumps of 10-20. Since the species

is stoloniferous, it is not possible to determine exactly how many individual

plants this represents.

Site Significance

Oxypolis canbyi is the primary element of significance at this site.

This species presently is under federal status review for listing as a

potentially endangered plant species (USDI, 1983). Only six populations of

this species are known to exist, three in Georgia, one in Maryland and two

in South Carolina. Two additional sites in South Carolina and one in

Delaware once harbored the species, but recent attempts to relocate the

species at these sites have been unsuccessful.

ill I

The S.C. Heritage Program considers this site to be of national

significance and a high priority for protection. The S.C. Nature

Conservancy acquired the site in 1983. The area is now managed as a nature

preserve. It is managed specifically for the protection of Oxypolis

canbyi.

Actual of Potential Threats

Since the area was recently acquired by the S.C. Nature Conservancy,

potential threats to the site have been reduced. Sufficient lands were

acquired so drainage of adjacent lands should not alter the hydrology of the

area.

Intensive residential development around the area could introduce

pollution. It also could preclude the use of one management option, regular

controlled burns, an option that may be necessary to maintain suitable habitat

for 0. canbyi.

Agricultural runoff shouldn't be a problem since the area is separated

from adjacent agricultural lands by highways without underground drains.

There are no direct, energy-related threats to the area at this time, and

potential threats are unl ikely.

Management Recommendations

Periodic, controlled burns may be necessary to maintain the openings

within which Oxypolis canbyi apparently grows best. Establishing and

monitoring permanent quadrants will be needed to determine: (1) whether or not

controlled burns are needed, and (2) if so , at what intervals controlled

burns are most effective in maintaining or increasing the population of

Oxypolis canbyi. Kral (1983) notes that prescribed burns and thinning the

112

overstory are beneficial to the species if done properly. Experimental,

controlled burns on only a small portion of the area should be tried before

attempts are made to burn the entire area.

Otter Islands

Site Description

This site consists of the whole complex of physical features; and natural

communities associated with the barrier island complex known as Otter Islands,

including beach, sand dunes, maritime forest, maritime scrub thicket, hummock

islands, salt marsh, salt flats, fresh to brackish ponds and tidal creeks. It

is bounded to the north by Jefford Creek, to the ea st by Fish Creek, to the

West by the Ashepoo River and St. Helena Sound, and to the south by the

Atlantic Ocean.

The main oceanfront island is broadly and shallowly U-shaped and contains

about 260 acres of upland and nearly 2.5 miles of beach. Low sand dunes

comprise about two-fifths of the upland and are nearly 600 feet wide in

places. The maritime forest is fairly typical of those this far south on the

coast, except for the absence of Magnolia grandiflora. It is undisturbed, but

trees are not especially well-developed in terms of height or diameter. A
large cattail marsh and several smaller ponds lie betwien the dunes and the

maritime forest in the southwest portion of the island. There are no roads,

paths, or signs of previous habitation on the islands. This island has a high

concentration of nesting loggerhead sea turtles, a small nesting population of

least terns, and (according to unconfirmed reports) the American alligator.

The sand dunes here also harbor a small population of Florida pellitory,

Parietaria floridiana.

113

Several smaller islands dominated by maritime forest and surrounded by

salt marshes, including one of ca. 25 acres in size, one of ca. 35 acres, one

of ca. nine acres, and nine less than four acres, are part of this complex.

One small, circular marsh island contains an unusual assemblage of plants. It

is dominated by live oak, cabbage palmetto, southern red cedar and Carolina

cherry laurel. Basswood is important in places as is red buckeye and shell-

mound buckthorn, Sageretia minutiflora.

The majority of-this site consists of undisturbed salt marshes and tidal

creeks (ca. 1700 acres).

Site Significance:

This is one of the few undeveloped, undisturbed, oceanfront barrier

islands remaining on the Atlantic coast.

Outer Otter Island has the highest number of nesting loggerhead sea

turtles on the southern half of coastal South Carolina. The loggerhead is on

state and federal lists of endangered and threatened wildlife.

The least tern is considered in need of management and "threatened" in

South Carolina.

This site has the largest population of Sageretia minutiflora known in

Colleton County. Shell-mound buckthorn, Sageretia minutiflora, was considered

"of regional concern - threatened" in 1979 (Rayner et al.). A 1984 update of

the list recommends dropping this species from the South Carolina list of

rare, threatened or endangered plants. The S.C. Heritage Program still

considers this species to be of significance and concern in South Carolina

Parietaria floridana, Florida pellitory, is rare in the northern half of

its range (North Carolina and South Carolina This is one of only three

known populations in South Carolina.

114

The S.C. Heritage Trust Program considers this site to be of national

significance and a high priority for protection. This area was recommended as

part of one of the "Significant Wildlife Resources Areas of South Carolina"

(USDI, 1981).

Actual or Potential Threats:

Residential development of outer Otter Island is the greatest threat to

the site. Such development almost certainly would lower the number of

loggerhead sea turtle nests.

This is a low-lying barrier island that could be seriously affected by

oil spills. Oil spills could affect the nesting by loggerhead sea turtles and

least terns and might also affect the shell-mound buckthorn and Florida

pellitory.

Management Recommendations:

This barrier island complex appears to be quite stable. No management is

needed. The complex simply needs to be protected from development, overuse

and, if possible, oil spills.

Ashepoo Natural Area

Site Description:

This site consists of a large freshwater marsh on Santee loam soil and

part of the surrounding swamp which is on Argent loam. The marsh has a

nearly continuous herbaceous cover and very few areas of open water, although

most of the area has standing water from December to April or May. Small

changes in topography in the marsh are reflected in differences 'in floristic

composition. Thus, some areas are dominated by Panicum hemitomon, others by

Peltandra virginica and Iris virginica, others by Typha latifolia, and still

others by Woodwardia virginica and Carex walteriana. Sagittaria lancifolia,

a species that is rare in the coastal plain of South Carolina, is relatively

115

abundant throughout the large, freshwater marsh. Shrubs and trees are a very

minor component of the marsh, although a small pocket of pond cypress is

present in the northeast sector, and shrubs are widely scattered throughout.

This is one of the largest freshwater marshes on a shallow peat substrate in

the coastal plain of South Carolina.

Most of the surrounding swamp is dominated by cypress and/or swamp

tupelo. One small, relatively open pocket in this swamp contains a major

wading bird rookery. Of especial interest here is the presence of the only

known wood stork rookery in South Carolina. Seven additional species of

wading birds also nest there. This rookery is registered as a Heritage Site

with the S.C. Heritage Trust Program.

Most of this site is inaccessible and undisturbed. The freshwater marsh

has an old fence line running through the southeast section. The dirt road

that forms the northern property boundary probably has altered the drainage

in the swamp somewhat, especially immediately south of the road.

The freshwater marsh and wood stork rookery are the main features of

interest here. The boundaries for the area were drawn to include sufficient

buffer for the continued existence of these features. The exact location of

the wood stork rookery is considered sensitive information and is not

pinpointed on maps of the area.'

Site Significance:

This area harbors one of the largest freshwater marshes on shallow peat

substrate in the coastal plain of South Carolina. The marsh has a diverse

herbaceous flora and a large population of Sagittatia lancifolia, a species

that is rare in the coastal plain of South Carolina.

116

This area harbors the only known wood stork rookery (22 nests) in South

Carolina. This is the northernmost known rookery of wood storks, a species

that was recently listed as federally endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service (USDI, 1984). This rookery also is a nesting area for great blue

herons (60 nests), great egrets (60 nests), snowy egrets (40 nests), cattle

egrets (150 nests), anhingas (40 nests), Louisiana herons (20 nests) and

little blue herons (20 nests).

The S.C. Heritage Trust Program considers this area to be of national

significance and recommends it as a high priority for protection.

Actual or Potential Threats:

The greatest threat to the area is from ditching and drainage operations

intended to improve site conditions for pine production.

Wetlands in the vicinity also have been diked and managed as waterfowl

impoundments. This probably is not a serious threat here.

This area presently has no known energy-related threats. The peat

here is too shallow to be exploited for fuel or horticultural use.

Management Recommendations:

This wetland requires very little management. The area may need

s-
prescribed burn every 10-15 years. Shrubs and trees probably will invade the

marsh if it is not burned occasionally.

Edisto Beach Natural Area

This site consists of a raised Indian shell mound and adjacent mainland

maritime forest on the southwest extremity of Edisto Beach State Park. The

southeast boundary of the site is Scott Creek, and the southwest boundary is

a salt marsh. The forest just northeast of the shell mound harbors the

largest of only two South Carolina populations of Agrimonia incisa, incised

groovebur. The forest here is a typical mai.nland maritime forest, dominated

117

by laurel oak, cabbage palmetto and an occasional live or water oak. The

herbaceous cover in the vicinity of the incised groovebur is unusual in that

it consists of a nearly complete cover of several species of legumes. The

incised groovebur is found within 3-4 feet of an old dirt road that now

serves as a nature trail. Sixteen plants were found in 1983, and 22 plants,

including four seedings, were found in 1984.

The 60 by 20-foot shell mound harbors a large population of Sageretia

minutiflora, the shell-mound buckthorn. This species is only found in
association'with shell deposits. Carolina cherry laurel dominates the low

canopy here.

Agrimonia incisa is only known to occur in South Carolina Florida and

Mississippi; there are fewer than 20 known populations. It presently is under

federal status review for listing as a potentially endangered or threatened

species. The species was listed in South Carolina as "of statewide concern -

threatened" in Rayner et al. (1979), but a recent (1984) unpublished update of

the South Carolina list considers the species "of national concern -

threatened." The S.C. Heritage Trust Program considers the species to be a

high priority for protection. This is the best of two South Carolina

populations.

Sageretia minutiflora is listed as "of regional concern - threatened" in

Rayner et al. (1979), but the recent (1984) update of this list recommends

dropping the species from the South Carolina list of rare, threatened or

endangered plants. The plant still usually occupies a very distinct habitat

and is infrequently encountered.

118

Shell mounds are of archeological and historic interest. Shell mounds

and shell rings are apparent sites of Indian occupation. Shell mounds

probably are no more than Indian refuse dumps, but the larger, distinctively-

shaped, shell rings probably served some additional purpose.

The S.C. Heritage Trust Program considers this site to be of statewide

significance and of high priority for protection.

Actual or Potential Threats:

At least two Agrimonia incisa plants occur within the old road bed to the

shell mound and are in danger of being trampled by visitors to the site.

The trails on and around the shell mound are eroding somewhat from

visitor use. Because the substrate is very hard, this should not be a major

problem.

Development could be a major problem if the area were not already owned

by the state of South Carolina.

Energy-related activities should have no potential impact on this site.

Management Recommendations:

Dr. Robert Kral (1983) suggests that prescribed burns, thinning the

overstory, and cutting the overstory could be beneficial to Agrimonia incisa,

if done properly; intensive site preparation or grazing would damage or

destroy the species, according to Kral.

Kral (1983) estimates: (1) prescribed burns and intensive site prepara-

tion would destroy the Sageretia minutiflora, (2) cutting the overstory would

damage the species, and (3) thinning the overstory would have no lasting

effect.

No management should be undertaken until additional management-related
research is completed. Thinning the overstory in- the area of the Agrimonia is
the most likely, ultimate management recommendation.

119

The old road leading to the shell mound still is occasionally used by

vehicles, in spite of the presence of a gate to prevent such use. Additional

efforts to prevent vehicular use of this road are needed.

Snuggedy Swamp

Site Description:

Snuggedy Swamp consists of a 9,500 acre complex of tidal, salt to

brackish marsh, freshwater marsh and swamp, and ancient barrier islands.

Natural conditions have been rather severely altered by man's activities in

most of this area. The area recommended here consists of about 2,300 acres of

relatively undisturbed marsh and swamp. It is bounded to the west by the

Ashepoo River and Deer Creek, to the north by Cattle Island, to the east by a

drainage ditch and to the south by the abandoned bed of the Seaboard Railroad.

The geomorphology, sedimentology and depositional history of this area

have been studied in some detail by Staub (1977). The nature and extent of

the peat deposits here have been determined by Cohen et al. (1982). Infor-

mation concerning the floristic composition is less complete. General vege-

tative types were determined from aerial surveys, and floristic composition of

peripheral areas was determined by boat and on foot. No floristic surveys

have been made of the inaccessible interior of the area, and no attempts were

made to correlate floristic composition with depositional history.

A narrow band of brackish, tidal marsh is adjacent to the Ashepoo River

and Deer Creek. Interesting or unusual species here include.Sagittaria

lancifolia, Scirpus californicus, Lilaeopsis chinensis and Hymenocallis

crassifolia. Sagittaria lancifolia has a very restricted distribution in

South Carolina but is apparently quite abundant in fresh to brackish marshes

over peat. According to Cohen et al. (1982) this tidal marsh is underlain by

about 12 inches of peat.

Aer ial surveys indicate that most of Snuggedy Swamp is a mosaic of fresh

marsh and swamp with a few, small, scattered ponds. The "basic" community

type here probably is a loblolly bay (Gordonia lasianthus) dominated shrub

bog. Differences in vegetation and floristic composition for this "basic"

community are related primarily to fire history. Staub (1977) presents

evidence that fires ignited during dry periods burned down into the peat and

created topographic depressions. Depending on the depth of the peat burn,

burned areas may develop into a variety of grass-sedge or emergent-floating

aquatic communities; if a fire burns little or no peat, the original community

may regenerate, minus loblolly bay (it is intolerant of fire) and possibly

with the addition of pond pine (it is highly tolerant of fire). Hardwoods

such as swamp tupelo and red maple also are intolerant of fire.

Important pocosin species include Persea borbonia, Myrica cerifera,

Lyonia lucida and Vaccinium corymbosum. Emergent or floating aquatics include

Nymphaea odorata, Lemna sp., Decodon verticillata, Limnobium spongia,

Habenaria repens and Alternanthera philoxeroides. Grass-sedge marsh areas may

consist of thick zones of just a few species, such as Typha latifolia; Cladium

jamaicense, Woodwardia virginica, Lachnanthes; caroliniana or Erianthus sp.

Or, grasss-sedge marsh areas may be quite high in diversity and include such

species as Andropogon virginicus, Sagittaria lancifolia, Centella asiatica,

Pluchea foetida, Bidens laevis, Xyris sp. and Lachnocaulon sp. At least some

pocosin shrubs are present in all grass-sedge marshes and shrub are pre-

dominant in some.

ite Significance:

This is by far the largest grass-sedge marsh1loblolly bay pocosin complex

in South Carolina. For this reason, it is considered a site of statewide

significance by the S.C. Heritage Trust Program. Larger and better examples

121

of this natural community type are known in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina

and Virginia, so the area cannot be considered an area of national

significance. The extensive work done on the geomorphology, sedimentology and

petrology of the area provides an excellent background for an extensive

botanical and ecological survey. Searches for additional rare plants should

be an important part of such a study.

Actual and Potential Threats:

According to Cohen et al. (1982) the average peat depth in this area is

about six feet, and some deposits are 12 feet deep or more. The peat here is

of sufficient quality to be used as fuel. Cohen et al (1982) indicate that

this deposit is relatively small compared to major peat gasification projects

under development in the U.S. but that deposits of similar size are exploited

in Russia and Europe. The threat to the area from a peat-fuel project

probably is not high or immediate.

Peat is mined commercially for horticultural use in an area just south of

the southern boundary of this site. Similar operations pose a serious threat

to this area. The immediacy of this threat is not known.

Most of the wetlands immediately north, east and south of this area are

diked and managed to attract waterfowl. This area easily could be converted

to similar purposes. This could be the most immediate threat to the area.

Management Recommendations:

A large ditch is parallel to the old Seaboard Railroad bed, which forms

the southern boundary of this proposed natural area, and another ditch forms

the proposed eastern boundary. Cohen et al. (1982, p. 36) state:

"Evidence of recent fires in surface samples analyzed microscopically as
well as evidence of recent vegetational changes in the upper portions of the
cores suggests that the Snuggedy Swamp drainage has been altered in the last
100 years or so. Thus, the present surface vegetation would no longer be
considered to be virgin swamp vegetation."

1??

This comment was in reference to the Snuggedy Swamp as a whole (9,500

plus acres), and, admittedly, most of the area outside this proposed area has

been altered greatly. There probably has been little direct effect from the

above-mentioned drainage ditches in the area recommended here except in the

immediate vicinity of the ditches. The effect of these drainage ditches needs

to be determined more completely'and, if necessary, changes made to offset

their effects.

This area requires no additonal active management. Fire is a natural

component of this system and natural fires should be allowed to burn. Adja-

cent areas may be artifically burned to promote growth of certain waterfowl

foods; efforts should be made to keep these fires out of this area.

Edisto Sink Holes

This site consists of: (1) a series of 20 or more small sink holes

scattered over an area of about 200 acres and (2) a large artesian spring

which boils up out of the base of a small bluff about six-tenths of a mile

north from the closest major sink hole.

Sink holes are generally small, relatively deep, and steep-walled

depressions that occur in parts of the Coastal Plain Province that are

underlain by marl or limestone. In South Carolina they usually are less than

100 feet across; and they may be as much as 50 feet deep. They are associated

with underground streams and/or caverns. A running stream may be seen at the

bottom of a sink hole, or a stream may flow into a sink hole and "disappear."

The Edisto Sink Holes are not impressive in terms of size, but they are

impressive in terms of number and diversity. At least 20 sink holes, varying

from nearly 20 feet to less than three feet deep, are present at this site; at

least seven contain water almost year-round. Streams enter and disappear in
at least two; one serves as an obvious exit point for the underground

(artesian) aquifer. The larger, water-filled sinks contain fish and are

fished. The plant life varies from sink to sink and is not particularly

distinctive. No rare species typically associated with marl or limestone

outcrops are found here, and no outcrops of marl or limestone are present.

Clinking Hole (all names are from "The Sink Holes of Edisto by Norman E.

Spell, Sr., 1974) is probably the most impressive and distinctive sink hole

here. Clinking-Hole is 30 feet long, 20 feet wide; it is 15 or more feet to
the top of the water level that is maintained in the hole. The sink hole is

situated at the edge of a gently sloping ridge. A stream flows from the

adjacent swamp through a narrow gorge-like channel into the sink and

disappears, apparently by way of an underground stream.

Roaring Hole is another sink hole that receives a small stream, and the

water then disappears through the bottom of the sink. According to Spell

(1974), water tumbles down several little falls and into the sink during

periods of low water, but water roars as it swirls "round and round in the

Roaring Hole like water in a giant funnel" following heavy rains. The Roaring

Hole did not roar when the site was visited in the summer of 1984; water was

standing and backed up into the narrow swamp that normally feeds the Roaring

Hole. Several other holes were flooded. Norman E. Spell, Jr. noted that he

had never seen the Roaring Hole blocked or water so high in a few other sinks.

He suggested that somehow the underground streams in part of the area had been

blocked, possibly as a result of recent lumbering activities in the area.

Big Spring is an artesian spring, i.e: the water bubbles up out of the

spring because it is under hydrostatic pressure. Spell (1974) states that

11many think that it is one of the places the underground river comes to the

surface." It is very likely that the "underground rivers" feed into a deep

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aquifer, and this artes ian spring is connected to this aquifer. Since this is

an artesian spring, a spring under pressure, there cannot be an unbroken

connection between the "underground rivers" and this spring.

Associated wetlands at the site include an extensive sweet-gum-dominated

wet flat, and a swamp tupelo pond known as Summer House Pond.

The woods surrounding most sink holes have recently been clear-cut and

planted in pine. This should have little effect on the sink holes. Somehow,

however, some of the sinks in the area apparently have lost their underground

connection.

Site Significance:

The significance of the Edisto Sink Holes is entirely due to their unique

geological features; there are no significant plants, plant communities or

animals known on this site. Although individual sink holes are not rare,

complexes containing numerous sinkholes are rare. This site contains more

sink holes than any other sink hole complex in South Carolina. It also

contains a wide variety of sink types, i.e. shallow sinks, deep sinks, sinks

with and without standing water, sinks that capture streams and an artesian

spring. Clinking Hole, Roaring Hole, and Big Spring are especially

impressive. The site is an excellent educational resource for demonstrating

sink holes and related geologic processes. This site is considered of

statewide significance by the S.C. Heritage Trust Program.

Actual or Potential Threats:

There are no energy-related threats to this area. Much of the area has

recently been lumbered; lumbering activities should not have a detrimental

effect on the sink holes proper, although they do reduce the aesthetic appeal

of the area. Residential or commercial development are not threats at

present, and development could be planned to avoid any negative impacts.

125

Management Recommendations:

Management recommendations for the area are few. No active management is

needed. The significance of the area can best be maintained by keeping the

area in an undisturbed, natural condition. Alteration of drainage patterns

must be avoided. Research is needed to determine why water no longer

disappears through the bottom of Roaring Hole.

Koger Intermittent Pond
Site Description: P

This site is a shallow, intermittent, natural pond surrounded by

loblolly pine woods that are kept open by regular prescribed burns. The open

pond area is elliptic and about 400 feet long. The site probably contains at

least some standing water during most of the year. In the spring of 1984

about one half of the pond contained emergent, aquat ic vegetation. Emergent

vegetation was most abundant in the deeper water areas and the overwhelming

dominant was Sagittatia graminea var. graminea. Water was 18 inches or

deeper (a maximum of about 40 inches) in most of the open pond. Although

emergent vegetation was not dense, most of the pond bottom was covered by a

dense mat of Bacopa, Gratiola, and Juncus. The open pond area is bordered by

a 20- to 120-foot wide zone of scattered to relatively dense Ilex, Nyssa and

Pinus, water from zero to eight inches deep, and sparce herbaceous

vegetation. A small population of Litsea aestivalis is present in this zone

toward the north-northwest margin. This zone in turn is bounded by a 20- to

30-foot wide "draw down" ecotone between the pond and the adjacent loblolly

pine woods; this zone has a canopy coverage of about 80 percent and sparce

shrub and herb layers. A 200-foot wide buffer of pine woods is recommended

to provide protection to the site.

126

Some stumps are present toward the open pond margins, and an old fire

lane runs obliquely from the south margin through the northeast margin. No

other disturbances are present.

Site Significance:

The floristic composition of this area is distinctive. Information is

available on more than 100 grass-sedge-dominated wet depressions and natural

ponds, and this is the only known example in South Carolina dominated by

Sagittaria graminea var. graminea. The presence of Drosera intermedia, a

species uncommon in the outer coastal plain and previously unreported in

Colleton County, suggests additional rarities may be present. Additional

rarities to look for during summer and fall surveys include Rhexia aristosa,

Ptlimnium nodosum, Myriophyllum laxum, Oxypolis canbyi and Utricularia

olivacea.

This site harbors one of only two known populations of Litsea aestivalis

in Colleton County. This species was considered "of regional concern

threatened" in South Carolina's 1979 list of rare'. threatened and endangered

species (Rayner et al., 1979). This species is found only in North Carolina,

South Carolina, Georgia and Florida and is considered sign ificantly rare

throughout its range. It apparently is much more abundant in South Carolina

than elsewhere in its range. Because of its apparent abundance in South

Carolina , the S.C. Advisory Committee (1984) recommended deleting this

species from the South Carolina list of rare, threatened or endangered plants.

The S.C. Heritage Program still considers this species significantly rare.

The S.C. Heritage Trust Program considers this site to be of' statewide

significance.

127

Threats to Area or Natural Elements:

Drainage probably is the only potential threat to the area. However,

since the area is small, it is unlikely that any attempts will be made to

drain the area.

Another possible threat to the area is irrigation. If the surrounding

uplands were cleared and farmed the area might become a source of water to

irrigate nearby fields.

There are no potential threats from energy-related activities.

A prescribe burn in the adjacent pinelands, if done when the pond and

the area around the Litsea is dry, could burn through the pond and destroy

the Litsea.

Management Recommendations:

Kral (1983) estimates: (1) thinning the overstory would be benefi-

cial, if done properly, (2) a prescribe burn would have no lasting effect,

and (3) extensive site preparation for forest regeneration would damage or

destory Litsea aestivalis. I disagree with Kral's estimate concerning

prescribed burn; hot prescribe burns easily could destory a population as

small as this one.

No active management is needed for this site.
Site Description: Big Survey Natural Area

This site consists of a pond pine - low shrub pocosin which merges into

a longleaf pine, dry flatwoods to the north and a wetter, pond pine-swamp

tupelo bay to the south. The pond pine-dominated areas appear to be on

Pinckney loamy sand, and the longleaf pine flatwoods are on Leon sand. The
0 ond pine pocosin contains numerous small savanna-like openings. This area,
p

particularly the savanna-like openings, harbors a good diversity of savanna

128

or bog plants. One species, Aristida spiciformis, is very rare in the

coastal plain of South Carolina. Another species, Zigadenus glaberrimus, is

unknown elsewhere in Colleton County, and several other species are rarely

found in Colleton County.

The longleaf pine flatwoods and parts of the pond pine pocosin are

burned on a regular basis; the wetter pond pine-swamp tupelo bay probably is

burned very infrequently.

This site is bisected by Secondary Road 28. There are no additional

disturbances at the site.

Site Significance:

This is one of only two known locations in South Carolina for Aristida

spiciforms. This species Js distributed from Florida to Texas, South

Carolina and the West Indies. It is rare in Mississippi, South Carolina and

Puerto Rico.

All three species of pitcher plants known from Colleton County,

Sarracenia flava, S. minor, and S. rubra, are found here. This is the largest

population of Sarracenia rubra known to the author in this county; in 1979

this species was considered "of statewide concern - threatened" on the

unofficial South Carolina list of rare and endangered plants (Rayner et al.,

1979).

Zigadenus glaberrimus is unknown elsewhere in Colleton County and

Habenaria blephariglottis, Cleistes divaricata and Bartonia paniculata are

rarely encountered in Colleton County.

The S.C. Heritage Program considers this site to be of local

significance.

129

Threats to Area or Natural Elements:

This area could be ditched, drained and planted in pine, a fate that has

befallen similar areas in Colleton County.

There are no known threats from energy-related activities.

Management Recommendations:

Present management is ideal for this area. The drier parts of the area

should be prescribe-burned every 2 to 3 years. Only a narrow portion of the

area at the pine flatwoods ecotone was burned in the winter of 1984.

Pond Spice Natural Area

Site Description:

This is small, grass-sedge dominated, intermittent wetland. Standing

water usually is present from January through May and occasionally into

August. An almost pure stand of Carex walteriana dominates the @ense

herbaceous layer. Panicum hemitomon, Woodwardia virginica and Sphagnum sp.

are important in places. Trees are absent except for a small stand of swamp

tupelo in a deeper, wetter, central area. Toward the east margin, in a area

matted with.Sphagnum moss, is a small colony of pond spice, Litsea

aestivalis. This is one of only two populations of this rare shrub known to

occur in Colleton County.

The area as a whole is nearly surrounded by a narrow zone of pond pine

and thick bay or pocosin shrubs. The area is surrounded by an 8 to 10-inch

deep fire lane.

Site Significance:

Litsea aestivalis, pond spice, is found only in North Carolina, South

Carolina, Georgia and Florida. It is considered significantly rare in all

states in its range. South Carolina probably has more of this species than

130

any other state with more than 20 populations reported from 8 coastal

counties.

The species was considered "of regional concern - threatened" in South

Carolina's 1979 list of rare, threatened and endangered species I(Rayner et

al., 1979). Because of its apparent abundance in South Carolina , the S.C.

Advisory Committee (1984) recommended deleting this species from the state

list of rare, threatened or endangered plants. The S.C. Heritage Program

still considers this species to be significantly rare. This is one of only

two populations of this species known in Colleton County.

The S.C. Heritage Trust Program considers this site to be of local

significance.

Actual or Potential Threats:

Litsea aestivalis does not respond well to fire. The presence of a fire

break, which tends to pool water around the area, should prevent fire from

entering the area on a regular basis.

Since most of the surrounding area has been planted in pines less than 10

years ago, it is unlikely that any attempts will be made to drain the area.

There are no known threats to the area from energy-related activities.

Management Recommendations:

Kral (1983) estimates: (1) thinning the overstory would be beneficial,

if done properly, (2) a prescribed burn would have no lasting effect, and (3)

extensive site preparation for forest regeneration would damage or destroy

Litsea aestivalis.

I disagree with Kral's estimate concerning prescribed burn. Hot

prescribed burns easily could destroy a population as small as this.

Ilk,

131

At present no management is needed. A prescribed burn when the area

surrounding the Litsea has standing water would be helpful in checking the

encroachment of pocosin shrubs.

Sandy Run Carolina Bay

Site Description:

This site consists of a small Carolina bay on Pickney loamy sand. The

bay is about 980 feet long and 500 feet wide at its widest point. The

margins of the area consist of a swamp with a closed canopy and vary in width

from less than 30 feet to more than 200 feet. The interior of the bay

consists of a swamp tupelo - pond cypress pond or marsh with scattered shrubs

or low trees.

This is a typical Carolina bay in that it is elliptic and its long axis

is oriented northwest to southeast. Sand rims are not present along any of

the margins; this is typical of Carolina bays in the upper coastal plain.

Although several large areas with "bay-like" vegetation in Colleton County

are called bays, (i.e. Jones Bay and Big Bay), most of these areas are not

Carolina bays. Carolina bays are very rare in Colleton County, and this is

the only one in the county that is essentially undisturbed. The only

disturbance to the area is a small, shallow, and ineffectual ditch that leads

out of the northwest margin.

This area contains a small heron rookery, the exact 'size and composition

of which have not been determined. Wood ducks also nest in the area.

Site Significance:

This is the only undisturbed Carolina bay in Colleton County. Carolina

bays are unique biogeomorphic features scattered on the coastal plain from

A 132

Virginia to Florida. Although they are very abundant in some coastal

counties, they are very rare in Colleton County. Even where they are

abundant, few examples are as undisturbed as this one.

This site has one of the few heron rookeries in the northern half of

Colleton County.

The S.C. Heritage Trust Program considers this site a natural area of

local significance.

Actual or Potential Threats:

The only real threat to this area is from ditching and draining. The

area is so small and wet that efforts to ditch and drain probably will not be

attempted.

The area might be used as a source of water for spray irrigation of

adjacent agricultural lands.

There are no known energy-related threats to this site.

Management Recommendations:

If the shallow ditch leading from the northwest margin does allow

drainage of excess water during periods of high water levels, then the ditch

needs to be blocked off. No additional management is needed.

Pond Cypress Natural Area

Site Description:

This site consists of a pond cypress savanna-marsh occupying a small, wet

depression that has developed in a valley between gently sloping sandhills.

The site is surrounded by longleaf pine flatwoods which merge into longleaf

pine - turkey oak on the hillsides. The soils in this site have not been

mapped separately from the surrounding lands, all of which have been mapped as

133

loamy sands or fine sands. Soils at the site are loamy and probably consist

of either Paxville fine sandy loam, or Rains sandy loam; these soils are found

in similar wet depressions in the vicinity.

The sparse canopy is dominated by mature, flat-topped pond cypress.

Although the largest pond cypress are only about 14 inches in diameter and 70

feet tall, these trees are probably more than 100 years old; pond cypress grow

very slowly in environments of wet, highly acidic soils. A few pond pines and

swamp tupelo also are present in the canopy.

Two major herbaceous zones are obvious, a central wet marsh and a

peripheral savanna. The central marsh is relatively homogeneous and dominated

by Carex walteriana, Woodwardia virginica and Sphagnum sp. Diversity here is

not high; fewer than 10 herbaceous species occupy this zone.

The peripheral savanna area is, like most savannas, quite diverse; at

least 35 species are found here. This peripheral zone also is not

homogeneous. Some areas are dominated by Aristida affinis, others by

Andropogon virginicus.or Rhynchospora spp. Some of the more interesting
species found here include Sarracenia minor, S. flava, Tofieldia racemosa,

Oxypolis filiformis and Lobelia boykinii. The Lobelia and several other

species actually are most abundant in the indistinct ecotone between the

central wet marsh and the drier, peripheral savanna.

The central wet marsh may have standing water for six months or more.

The driest parts of the adjacent savanna may have saturated soils for several

months, but standing water may only be present occasionally and for short

periods following heavy rains.

Fire scars are present on trees and stumps within and surrounding this

site. Occasional fires are necessary for maintenance of this savanna-marsh

community.

134

Site Significance:

This is an excellent example of a mature, pond cypress savanna-marsh

community. This community type is not rare in the coastal plain or in

Colleton County. This is the best example of this type known in Colleton

County.

. This is the only known population of Lobelia boykinii, Boykin's lobelia,

in Colleton County. Lobelia boykinii is known in seven states from New Jersey

to Alabama. It presently is under federal status review for listing as a

potentially endangered or threatened species (USDI, 1983). There are at least

15 populations known from 10 South Carolina counties. Because of its apparent

abundance in South Carolina, the S.C. Advisory Committee (1984) recommended

that this species not be added to the South Carolina list of rare, threatened

or endangered species. Since there are fewer reports of this species from the

remainder of its range (six states) than from just South Carolina, protection

of the species in South Carolina. may be important to range-wide preservation

efforts. The S.C. Advisory Committee's recommendation may need to be changed

if no additional populations outside South Carolina are found.

The S.C. Heritage Trust Program considers this site of local

significance. This is the best pond cypress savanna-marsh in Coll eton County

and is the only location in the county for Lobelia boykinii. If' Lobelia

boykinii at some future date is added to the South Carolina list of rare,

threatened or endangered plants, this site would become one of statewide

si gni f i cance.

135

Actual and Potential Threats:

There are no real threats to this site from energy-related activities.

Anything which alters the hydrology of the area would constitute a serious

threat. The area could be ditched to provide drainage necessary for increased

forest productivity. The area is probably too small to warrant efforts to

ditch and drain.

Management Recommendations:

This community is dependent on periodic fire for maintenance. In the

absence of fire the area will be invaded by trees and shrubs and will soon

lose many of its distinctive herbaceous associates. The area should be

prescribe-burned every 3-5 years. Presently the surrounding woodlands are

burned at least that frequently.

Thalia dealbata

Site Description:

This site consists of a roadside ditch and a channelized stream just

northwest of Secondary Road 66. Several robust colonies of Thalia dealbata,

powdery thalia, are scattered for about 135 yards along the ditch paralleling

the road along the channelized stream that flows under S-66. The channelized

stream forms the western boundary of the population. The Thalia is most

abundant and vigorous in the channelized stream just northwest of S-66; much

of the drainage ditch is overgrown with weedy species, such as Rumex and

Rubus.

Site Significance:

Thalia dealbata is considered a species "of concern status unresolved" by

the S.C. Advisory Committee (1984). In South Carolina it is known from

populations in five additional coastal counties. This obviously is a highly

disturbed site.

136

The presence here of a pl'ant species that is considered significantly

rare in South Carolina automatically makes the site of some significance. The

highly disturbed nature of the site, however, lowers its significance. This

site is considered of local significance by the S.C. Heritage Trust Program.

Actual and Potential Threats:

The main threat to the site is from maintenance operations 'in the

roadside ditch and on Secondary Road 66 itself. The Highway Department should

be told about this population and requested to restrict maintenance activities

in the area.

Management Recommendations:

No active management is needed in this highly disturbed site.

Energy-related Threats to Significant Natural Areas

The most direct threat from energy-related development is from peat

mining for fuel. Cohen et al. (1982) indicate that the Snuggedy Swamp

contains fuel-quality peat in quantities that could make mining for fuel

economically feasible. About one-fourth of Snuggedy Swamp (Site 88) is

recommended here for listing as a significant natural area. Peat mining for

fuel, or for horticultural purposes as is already being done nearby, would

destroy this natural area.

According to Mr. Chris Brooks, the Water Resources Commission has

recently approved permits for some exploratory drilling for oil in Colleton

County. An oil drilling facility on any of the proposed natural areas could

have serious negative impacts. With advanc e planning, however, it is possible

that negative impacts could be avoided or at least minimized.

Oil spills from offshore oil drilling would have negative impacts on

parts of Otter Islands (Site 101). It is not known when or if this could

become a serious threat.

137

A coal-burning or nuclear power plant on any of the proposed natural

areas could have serious negative impacts. Since these facilities require

large amounts of water, part of the Edisto Sink Holes (Site 5) probably is the

only area that would be directly or indirectly impacted by such facilites.

Construction of hydroelectric facilities on the Edisto River could

adversely impact part of the Edisto Sink Holes (Site 5). None of the other

recommended areas would be potentially impacted by hydroelectric development.

138

Literature Cited

Ballington, J. R., W. B. Kirkman, D. V. Barkley, and A. F. Huyler. 19800).
Vaccinium Germplasm Collections (North Carolina and South Carolina) 1978
and 1979. Horticultural Crops Research Series 51, N.C. State Univ.,
Raleigh, N.C.

Cohen, A. D., M. Holmes, M. Andrejko, D. Corvinus, M. Tisdale and T. J.
Vigerstad. 1982. Peat Resource Estimation in South Carolina. Final
Report (Year 2). South Carolina Energy Research Institute, Columbia,
S.C.

Cooke, C. W. 1936. Geology of the Coastal Plain of South Carolina. U.S.
Geol. Survey Bull. 867.
Glover, B. 1969. Narratives' of Colleton County, South Carolina. Published
by the author, Walterboro, S.C.

Heron, S. D. Jr. 1962 Limestone Resources of the Coastal Plain of South
Carolina. Bull. @o. 28, Division of Geology, State Development Board,
Columbia, S.C.

Johnson, H.S. 1964. (revised in 1971 by E. James Clay). Geology in South
Carolina. Misc. Report 3, Division of Geology, State Development Board,
Columbia, S.C.

Kral, R. 1983. A Report on Some Rare, Threatened, or Endangered Forest-
Related Vascular Plants of the South. Tech. Publ. R8-TP2, USDA Forest
Service, Atlanta, Ga.

Lander, E. M., Jr., and R. K. Ackerman. 1973. Perspectives in South Carolina
history, the first 300 years. Univ. of South Carolina Press, Columbia,
S.C.

Radford, A. E., H. E. Ahles, and C. R. Bell. Manual of the Vascular Flora of
the Carolinas. The Univ. of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, N.C.

Rayner, D. A. and S.C. Advisory Committee. 1979. Native Vascular Plants
Endangered, Threatened, or Otherwise in Jeopardy in South Carolina.
Museum Bulletin No. 4, S.C. Museum Commission, Columbia, S.C.

Savage, H., Jr. 1982. The Mysterious Carolina Bays. Univ. of South Carolina
Press, Columbia, S.C.

S.C. Advisory Committee. 1984. Native Vascular Plants Endangered,
Threatened, or Otherwise in Jeopardy in South Carolina. Unpublished
list, S.C. Heritage Trust Program, Columbia, S.C.

Spell, N.E., Sr. 1974. The Sink Holes of Edisto In One Grand Adventure:
Growing Up In Colleton County, S.C. 1903-19197.7 Unpublished manuscript
presented to the Colleton County Library, Walterboro, S.C.

139

Stalter, R. 1972. The flora of outer Otter Island, Colleton County, South
Carolina. Castanea 37: 298-300.

Staub, J.R. 1977. The Snuggedy Swamp of South Carolina, A Modern Back-
Barrier Coal-Forming Environment. Unpub. Master's Thesis, Dept. of
Geology, Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia, S.C.

Stuck, 1982. Soil Survey of Colleton County, South Carolina. National Coop.
Soil Survey, U.S. Dept. Agri., Soil Conservation Service.

Tucker, A. 0., N. H. Dill, T. D. Pizzolato, and R. D. Kral. 1983.
Nomenclature, Distribution, Chromosome Numbers, and Fruit Morphology of
Oxypolis canbyi and 0. filiformis (Apiaceae). Syst. Bot. 8: 299-304.

USDA, Soil Conservation Service. 1970. South Carolina Soil and Water Needs
Inventory. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.

USDI, Fish and Wildlife Service. 1981. Significant Wildlife Resource Areas
of South Carolina. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Asheville, N.C.

USDI, Fish and Wildlife Service. 1983. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
and Plants; Supplement to Review of Plant Taxa for Listing: Proposed
Rule. Federal Register 48(229): 53640-53670.

USDI, Fish and Wildlife Service. 1984. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
and Plants. Reprint of CFR 17.11 and 17.12 Publications Unit, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C.

Wharton, C. H., W. M. Kitchens, E. C. Pendleton, and T. W. Sipe. 1982. The
Ecology of Bottomland Hardwood Swamps of the Southeast: a Community
Profile. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bilogical Services Program,
Washington, D.C. FWS/OB5-81/37.

140

Appendix I
Colleton County: Sites Surveyed as Potential Natural Areas

Significant Natural Areas

5 - Edisto Sink Holes
34 -Koger Intermittent Pond
59 -Pond Cypress Natural Area
60 -Sandy Run Carolina Bay
67 -Big Survey Natural Area
88 -Snuggedy Swamp
101 -Otter Islands
105 -Colleton County Cowbane Preserve
106 -Pond Spice Natural Area
113 -Ashepoo Natural Area
114 -Thalia dealbata
116 -Edisto Beach Natural Area
0 Non-significant Areas
1&2 - Wet Depressions in Pelham Loamy Sand
3 -Wet Flatwoods on U.S. 21
4 -Natural Wet Depression near Mt. Olive Church
7 -Pond near Williams
8 -Wet Depression North of Ruffin
9 -Hardwood Bluffs along the Edisto River
11 -Lynn Haven Soil Site
12 -Natural Pond near Maple Cane Church
13 -Mature Uplands on Alpin Fine Sand
16 -Wet Depression in Albany Loamy Sand
17 -Cypress-Pine Wet Depression
19 -Swamp Tupelo Wet Depression
24 -Pond Pine Pocosin near Sidney
25 -Loblolly Pine Wetland
27 -Wet Depression near Cross Swamp
28 -Mature Bottomland along Cross Swamp
29 -Beech Hummock in Moselle Swamp

141

31 - Ridge and Swale Series
32 - Wet Depression on Paxville Soil
35 - Natural Ponds?
40 - Natural Pond near Jones Swamp
43 - Leon Soil Site
47 - Wet Depression near Snider's Crossroads
48 - Edisto Nature Trail
49 - North Bluffs along Doctor's Creek
50 - Flatwoods on Seagate Fine Sand
51 - Grass-sedge Wet Depression in Walterboro
57 - Mesic Hardwood Bluffs
58 - Pine Pocosin along Sandy Run Creek
62 - Swamp Tupelo Pond SE of Neyles Crossroads
63 - Wet Depression in Santee Loam
65 - Burden Swamp
66 - Dry Pine Flatwoods along S-28
69 - Gordonia Swamp along 1-95
72 - Pine Flatwoods along 1-95
73 - Beech Hummock off U.S. 17
77 - Sand Bars along the Combahee River
78 - Marsh in Hardwood Swamp
84 - Deer Creek
85 - Red Maple - Red Bay Fern Marsh
86 - Wet Depressions near Trinity Church
90 - Pocosin East of Bear Island
91 - Flatwoods and Wet Depressions along S-162
96 - Mature Pine Forest on Lakeland Soil

98 - Small Marshes on Boulder Island
99 - Small Marshes among Scattered Pine
100 - Mature Live Oak - Pine
102 - Carolina Bay?
103 - Carolina Bay?
107 - Ctenium Savanna along S-24
108 - Pine Flatwoods and Pocosin along S-456
109 - Ilex amelanchier search
110 - Large Bay and Adjacent Flatwoods along S.C. 63

142

111 - Pine Island
115 - Bluff along Old Chehaw River
117 - Big Salkahatchie Swamp
118 - Sageretia minutiflora search

143

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101

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GEIERALIONWA- COLLCTON COUNTY Is

Appendix II: Personal Contacts

Herman H. Crosby, Jr. Thomas Murphy
S.C. Wildlife & Marine Resources Dept. S.C. Wildlife & Marine Resources Dept.
Box 311, Del Ray Drive Poco Sabo Plantation
Walterboro, SC 29488 Star Route 2, Box 167
Robert Folk Green Pond, SC 29446
S.C. Wildlife & Marine Resources Dept. Johnny Spell
25-B Bells Highway S.C. Wildlife & Marine Resources Dept.
Walterboro, SC 29488 Route 4, Box 15
Dr. Robert Godfrey Walterboro, SC 29488
Dept. of Botany Norman E. Spell, Jr.
Florida State University 104 Mikell Drive
Tallahassee, FL Summerville, SC 29483

David Lamar Godley Warren Stuck
Islandton, SC U.S. Soil Conservation Service
769B North Jefferies Blvd.
Sally Hopkins-Murphy Walterboro, SC 29488
S.C. Wildlife & Marine Resources Dept.
Poco Sabo Plantation Philip Wilkinson
Star Route 2, Box 167 S.C. Wildlife & Marine Resources Dept.
Green Pond, SC 29446 407 Meeting Street
Georgetown, SC 29440
Melissa Johnston
105 West Court James Williams
Columbia, SC 29210 U.S. Foil Conservation Service
County Agricultural Bldg.
119 Benson Street
Walterboro, SC 29440

James E. Valentine
S.C. Wildlife & Marine Resources Dept.
Route 1, Box 176-D
Islandton, SC 29929

144

Submitted by:

Douglas A. rayner, Project leader

Reviewed by:

Thomas S. Kohlsaat, supervisor
Nongame and Heritage Trust Section

Approved by:

South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department

Jefferson C. Fuller, Jr., Director
Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries

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