1995 UNC Spring Phytogeographical Excursion
to
South Carolina & Georgia Piedmont
March 30-April 2, 1995
Itinerary
Thursday, March 30:
Leave Chapel Hill
4:30pm. US15/501 s to US1 s to NC177 s
to SC177 s to SC9 w to US1 s to Cheraw State Park (ignore sign to State Park),
Co. 20 1 mile e across Juniper Crk (#1).
1. Hudsonia Island,
Chesterfield Co., S.C.
Gradient
from turkey oak scrub to pine woodland to bay forest. Only site for Hudsonia ericoides south of Delaware. One of
three known sites for Chrysoma pauciflosculosa in the Carolinas.
Return w to US1, se to
US601 (Camden), s 3 mi to I20, sw to US1 Aiken exit, s on US1 8 miles; left on
SC118 (at 2nd light and where there are two gas stations and a shopping Center)
0.5 mile to next light; left on Camellia Lane (county road #29) 1.3 miles;
right(at church) onto New Bridge Rd (county road #206). Wild's is the small, unmarked, asphalt
driveway, immediately past the church parking lot. Go straight through the open gate (ignore dog signs) and park in
the sandy circular drive (see map inset).
The driveway should be flagged by the time the third vehicle arrives.
Friday, March 31:
Retrace #206 w to #29 sw
(lft) to SC118, n (rgt) to SC19, n (rgt) to I20 sw to GA47/US221 (exit 61), n
2.7 mi to GA232, e (rt) 1.7 mi to first crossroads (S2122? Lewisville Rd., long
defunct Smitty's Grocery on corner), n (lft) 2.2 mi, park across from chainlink
fence (walk e 0.7 mi; #2).
2. Heggie's Rock,
Columbia Co., GA
This
is the best remaining granite outcrop community left in the Southeast. Contains
21 or the 26 SE granite outcrop endemics
S2122
ne to S2123 ne (rt) to GA104 nw (lft) across Kiokee Creek, dirt rd (Petersburg
Rd.) n (rt) to Old Middleton Ferry Rd., e (rt) to Burks Mtn (#3).
3. Burk Mountain, Columbia
Co., GA
The
best example of piedmont serpentine vegetation south of Maryland.
W to Pollard's Corner,
US221 ne to Clark's Hill, Co.88 ne 1.1 miles to dirt rd, ne 400 yards to
Stevens Creek (#4).
4. Steven's Creek, McCormick Co., SC
Spectacular
mesic herb vegetation of circumneutral soils.
One of two known locations for Ribes echinellum.
Co.88 sw to SC28/US221
(Clark's Hill), SC28 n to SC81, w (lft) to SC25, s (lft) to end of rd (#5).
5. John de la Howe Forest,
McCormick Co, SC
Perhaps
the only piedmont pine forest left in the Carolinas that has never been cut.
SC81 e to SC28, s to
US378, e to US25, s to SC-19, s to Aiken and SC-118, and return to Wild's farm
as above.
Saturday, April 1:
Retrace #206 w to #29,
sw past SC118 to SC-19, s (lft) to US1 (Richland Rd.), w (rgt) ca 8 blocks to
Linden Street, s (lft) one block where jogs and becomes Dribble Rd., follow to
Hitchcock Woods (#6).
6. Hitchcock Woods, Aiken Co, SC
Mixture
of Longleaf pine types; excellent examples of mixed pine and evergreen heath
communities on Vaucluse soils.
Retrace to SC19, N of
SC19 to I20, e to SC230, se (rt) 0.5 mile to Plantation Rd. sw (rt) 0.2 mi to
first rt, 0.3 mi to end of pavement (#7).
7. Savannah River Bluffs,
Aiken Co, SC
Classic
pleistocene refugial habitat with numerous rare, disjunct species (e.g., Cladrastis
kentukea, Aesculus parviflora, Forestiera ligustrina, Trillium reliquum)
Backtrack to I20, ne
(rgt) to SC49, n (lft) ca 1 mile, left on first road. Camp Gravatt (#8) is ca
1.5 miles on right.
8. Camp Gravatt, Aiken Co, SC
Disjunct
Chamaecyparis thyoides stand.
Retrace to I20, ne to
SC34, se ca 6 miles to county #279, e ca 3.5 miles to Scouters Creek (#9).
9. Shealy's Pond,
Lexington Co., SC
Excellent
aquatic habitats, with adjacent seepage slope dominated by South Carolina's
most extensive stand of white cedar.
Only known site for Vaccinium sempervirens.
E to SC6, s 2.3 mi to
SC635, n 0.3 mi (#10).
10. Peach
Tree Rock, Lexington Co., SC
Sandhill
rock outcrop community that combines coastal plain (e.g., longleaf pine) and mountain (e.g., Mountain laurel)
elements.
SC6 n to I20, I20 e to
I77, n to SC9, w ca 4 mi to SC909, nw (rt) to SC72, nne (rt) ca 2.5 mi to
county #82 (Chappel Rd)(sic), w (lft) 0.7 mi to Alex Miller House (#11), where
we will spend the night.
Sunday, April 2:
11. Camassia
Flat, York Co., SC
Lowland
montmorillonite soils supporting remnant populations of plants from the
long-destroyed Charlotte prairies, including one of three populations of Camassia
known from the Carolinas.
Backtrack to SC72, ne to
SC901, s (rt) ca 0.5 mile to Glenarden Rd., e (lf) on Glenarden to end of road
(#12). Walk due east to powerlines.
12. Rock
Hill Gabbro Barrens, York Co., SC
The
best example of xeric gabbro prairie and blackjack woodland in the Carolinas. Numerous species of prairie or Midwestern
affinity nearly restricted to this sight in the Carolinas.
E to I77, s to SC5
(US21), e on SC5 (splitting off from US21) to US521, s to SC903, se (lft) ca 16
mi to US601, ne (lft) ca 1 mi to Flat Creek (#13).
13. Flat
Creek Dike, Lancaster Co., SC
Mesic
forest over basic soils, one of the richest herb communities known from South
Carolina.
ca 0.2 mi to SC27, n ca 1.8 mi to dirt rd,
w (lft) to end of rd (#14).
14. Forty-acre
Rock, Lancaster Co., SC
Classic
granite outcrop community
N (lft) on SC27 0.3 mi
to SC123, e (rt) 1.5 mi to US601, n (lft) to NC200 (at Monroe), n to 0.8 mi n
of Rocky River, w on NC1122 ca 1.1 miles to Ridge Rd. (= second rd on left), s
(lft) to end of rd (#15).
15. Rocky
River Bluffs, Stanley Co., NC
Bluff
vegetation includes uncommon species like Acer leucoderme, Aster commixtus
and Dodecantheon meadii, plus one of two populations of Pellaea
wrightiana known east of Oklahoma.
E on NC1122 to NC200, n
(lft) to US601, n (rt) to NC49, e (rt) to US64, e to US15/501, n to Chapel
Hill.
In all species lists,
"*" indicates reported from site but not seen by our group.
Site descriptions
Location: Lexington
County, SC; 6 miles south of Cheraw, SC; 34ĝ37'11"N, 79ĝ56'25"W. Cash
Quadrangle.
Cross Juniper Creek on
Co. 20, and park on roadside.
Site: This site contains a
gradient from interstream flat over coarse sand dominated by Quercus laevis,
through Pinus palustris woodland to bay forest. Elevation 140-190', area ca 40 ha.
Significance: The shrub Chrysoma
(=Solidago) pauciflosculosa, a sandhill dominant where it occurs,
is known from only three sites in the Carolinas (Raubeson Co. NC, Lexington and
Chesterfield Cos. SC), but is locally abundant farther south. This is the only known sites for Hudsonia
ericoides south of Delaware. Leiophyllum
has a somewhat less extreme disjunction in its range with populations in the
New Jersey pine barrens, on rock outcrops in the high mountains and on the
coastal plain of southeastern North Carolina and adjacent South Carolina (see
Strand & Wyatt 1991; Syst. Bot 16:529-545).
Species list
Trees
Acer
rubrum tridens
Chamaecyparis
thyoides
Ilex
opaca
Pinus
palustris
Pinus
serotina
Pinus
taeda
Quercus
falcata
Quercus
laevis
Taxodium
ascendens
Shrubs and vines
Amelanchier
obovalis
Aronia
arbutifolia
Arundinaria
gigantea tecta
Chrysoma
pauciflosculosa
Clethera
alnifolia
Cyrilla
racemosa
Fothergilla
gardenii
Gaylussacia
dumosa
Gelsemium
sempervirens
Gordonia
lasianthus
Hudsonia
ericoides
Hypericum
hypericoides
Ilex
coriacea
Ilex
glabra
Kalmia
caroliniana
Leiophyllum
buxifolium
Leucothoe
racemosa
Lonicera
japonica
Lyonia
lucida
Lyonia
mariana
Magnolia
virginiana
Opuntia
humifusa
Persea
palustris
Phorodendron
serotinum
Rhododendron
viscosum
Rhus
copallina
Smilax
glauca
Smilax
laurifolia
Symplocus
tinctoria
Vaccinium
attrococcum
Vaccinium
crassifolium
Vaccinium
formosum
Vaccinium
tenellum
Vitis
rotundifolia
Zenobia
pulverulenta
Herbs
Andropogon
elliottii
Andropogon
tenerius
Andropogon
virginicus
Aristida
stricta
Aster
paternus
Aster
tortifolius
Bigelowia
nudata
Carex
glaucescens
Cnidosculus
stimulosus
Dichanthelium
spp.
Drosera
capillaris Pteridium aquilinum
pseudocaudatum
Drosera
intermedia Pyxidanthera barbulata
Iris
verna verna Rhexia mariana
Juncus
abortivus Rhexia petiolata
Juncus
canadensis Rhyncospora inexpansa
Juncus
calidus Sarracenia
rubra
Lachnanthes
carolinana Scirpus cyperinus
Lachnocaulon
anceps Selaginella arenicola
Lycopodium
alopecuroides Seymeria cassioides
Lycopodium
appressum Solidago odora
Minuartia
caroliniana Sporobolus sp.1 (cf teretifolius)
Muhlenbergia
expansia Stipulicida setacea
Osmunda
cinnamomea Trilisia odoratissima
Pityopsis
graminifolia Utricularia juncea
Polygala
lutea Xyris carolinana
Polygonella
polygama Zygadenus densus
Location: Columbia County,
Georgia. Appling Quadrangle.
33ĝ32'30"N; 82ĝ15'05"W.
Follow dirt road to ramshackel farmhouse. Trail follows the left (N) side of the field, just inside the
woods.
Site: Flat granite outcrop of about 92 acres, owned by the Georgia
Nature Conservancy. Primarily a
porophyritic granite with large phenochrysts.
Be sure to look at the range of habitats on top of the rock, and then
follow it to the base to look at the seepage areas.
Significance: This is perhaps the best
remaining example of a piedmont granite flatrock. This community complex is best known for the numerous
endemics. Extensive research has also
been done on the primary succession.
Radford claims 11 of the 19 granite flatrock endemics occur here (Isoetes
melanospora, Panicum lithophilum, Cyperus granitophilus, Rhynchospora saxicola,
Juncus georgianus, Sedum pusillum, Draba aprica, Oenothera linifolia gladulosa,
Oenothera fruticosa subglobosa, Phacelia dubia georgiana, Amphianthus
pusillus, & Viguiera porteri).
References:
Burbanck, M.P. and R.G.
Platt. 1964. Granite outcroppings of
the Piedmont of Georgia. Ecology
45:292-306.
McVaugh, R. 1943. The vegetation of the granitic flatrocks of
the southeastern United States.
Ecological Monographs 13:119-166.
Sharitz, R.R. and J.F.
mcCormick. 1973. Population dynamics of
two competing annual plant species.
Ecology 54:723-740.
Shure, D.J. and H.J.
Ragsdale. 1977. Ptterns of primary
succession on granite outcrop surfaces. Ecology 58:993-1006
Species List
Trees, Shrubs and vines:
Arundinaria
gigantea tecta
Callicarpa
americana
Campus
radicans
Carya
alba
Carya
glabra
Chionanthus
virginicus
Diospyrus
virginiana
Euonymus
americana
Forestiera
ligustrina
Gelsemium
sempervirens
Juniperus
virginianus
Liquidambar
styraciflua
Lonicera
japonica
Mitchella
repens
Nyssa
sylvatica
Opuntia
drummondii
Parthenocissus
quinquefolia
Pinus
taeda
Prunus
serotina
Quercus
georgiana
Quercus
nigra
Quercus
phellos
Quercus
stellata
Quercus
velutina
Rhamnus
carolinana
Rhus
copallina
Smilax
bona-nox
Toxicodendron
radicans
Ulmus
alata
Vaccinium
arboreum
Vitis
rotundifolia
Herbs:
Agrostis
hyemalis
Amphianthus
pusillus
Andropogon
virginicus
Anemone
berlandieri
Arabis
laevigatus
Arabis
missouriensis
Asplenium
platyneuron
Cheilanthes
lanosa
Coreopis
lanceolata
Crontonopsis
elliptica
Danthonia
sericea
Delphinium
carolinianum
Dichanthelium
boscii
Dichanthelium
laxiflorum
Dimorpha
smallii
Erigeron
strigosus
Gnaphalium
purpurea
Hedyotis
crassifolia
Hypericum
gentianoides
Isoetes
melanopoda
Juncus
georgianus
Krigia
virginica
Lindernia
monticola
Matelia
sp.
Melica
mutica
Minuartia
uniflora
Nothoscordum
bivalve
Nuttalanthus
canadensis
Oenothera
perennis
Phacelia
dubia georgiana
Piptochaetum
avenacea
Plantago
virginica
Sanicula
sp.
Schoenolirion
croceum
Scutellaria
ovata
Sedum
pusillum
Selaginella
tortipila
Senecio
tomentosus
Senecio
anonymus
Talinum
teretifolium
Tradescantia
rosea rosea
Triodanus
specularia
Yucca
aloifolia
(Other characteristic
outcrop specialties to watch for.)
Agrostis
elliottiana
Arenaria groenlandica var glabra
Botrychium
lunarioides
Commelina
erecta
Cyperus
granitophilus
Diamorpha
cymosa
Draba
aprica
Fimbristylis
dichotoma
Houstonia
pusilla
Isoetes
melanopoda
Lepuropetalon
spathulatum
Lotus
helleri
Nothoscordum
bivalve
Oenothera
linifolia glandulosa
Oenothera
fruticosa subglobosa
Ophioglossum
crotalophoroides
Panicum
lithophilum
Polygala
curtisii
Portulaca
coronata
Riccia
dictyospora
Rhyncospora
saxicola
Scirpus
koilolepis
Tradescantia
hirsuticaulis
Trifolium
carolinianum
Viguiera
porteri
Location: Columbia County,
Georgia. Evans Quadrangle. 33ĝ37'10"N, 82ĝ13'00"W.
Site: Serpentine vegetation
with open mixed-pine savanna on the southern exposure.
Significance: Burks Mountain is the
only piedmont example of well-developed vegetation over serpentine south of
Maryland. The mix of Pinus palustris,
P. echinata and Quercus marilandica is also very unusual for the piedmont. Elliotia racemosa grows here.
References:
Brooks, R.R. 1987. Serpentine and its vegetation: A multidisciplinary
approach. Diocorides Press.
Species List
Trees
Ilex
opaca
Liquidambar
styraciflua
Pinus
echinata
Pinus
palustris
Pinus
virginiana
Quercus
laevis
Quercus
marilandica
Quercus
rubra
Quercus
stellata
Shrubs and vines
Callicarpa
americana
*Clematis
albicoma
*Elliotia
racemosa
Gelsemium
sempervirens
Myrica
cerifera
Rhus
copallinum
Satureja
georgiana
Smilax
bona-nox
Smilax
glauca
Smilax
rotundifolia
Vaccinium
arboreum
Vaccinium
staminium melanocarpum
Vitis
rotundifolia
Herbs
Agalinis
obtusifolia
Agave
virginica
Allium
bivalue
Andropogon
glomeratus
Aristida
purpurascens
Aristida
sp.
Baptisia
bracteata
Baptisia
pendula
Carex
spp.
Centrosema
virginiana
Chimaphila
maculata
Clematis
ochroluca
Delphinium
sp.
Desmodium
marilandicum
Dichanthelium
depauperatum
Elephantopus
tomentosus
Eragrostis
ciliaris
Erigeron
sp.
Eupatorium
aromaticum
Eupatorium
compositifolium
Euphorbia
sp.
Galium
pilosum
Helianthemum
Hieracium
venosum
Houstonia
longifolia
Hypericum
drummondii
Hypericum
gentianoides
Hypericum
hypericoides
Hypericum
perforatum
Hypoxis
hirsuta
Lespedeza
sp.
Liatris
graminifolia
Oenothera
Oxalis
acetosella
Pityopsis
graminifolia
*Polygonum
tenue
Potentialla
simplex
Pteridium
aquilinum pseudocaudatum
Ranunculus
hispidus
Schizachrium
scoparium
Scleria
oligantha
Scutellaria
elliptica
Silene
antirrhina
Solidago
arguta
Sorghastrum
nutans
Spenopholis
filiformis
Sporobolus
sp.
Stylosanthes
biflora
Talinum
teretifolium
Thaspium
trifoliatum
Tragia
urticifolia
Verbesina
sp.
Viola
emarginata
Viola
pedata
Viola
septemloba
Zizia
aptera
Location: McCormick County, SC; Clarks Hill Quadrangle. 33ĝ41'00"N,
82ĝ09'00"W.
Site: Relatively old-growth hardwood
forest over circumneutral to basic soils with ph 7-8
Significance: This site and other
mesic, nutrient-rich sites like it, such as the Savannah River Bluffs Preserve,
probably contained isolated stands mesic hardwood forest throughout the Pleistocene. Disjunct, rare, and endemic plants form the
basis for this interpretation. Stevens
Creek is most famous for its large population of Ribes echinellum which
is known only from this site and a couple plants at a second site in the
Florida panhandle. Carex jamesii
occurs here, disjunct in the coastal plain and piedmont region from the Roanoke
River Bluffs in northern North Carolina.
Four other species are (or were) known only from this one site in SC: Dicentra
cucullaria, Isopyrum biternatum (subsequently found at Savanna River
Bluffs), Lithospermum tuberosum and Urtica chamaedryoides.
References:
Radford, A.E. 1959. A relect plant community in South
Carolina. J. Elisha Mitchell Scientific
Society 75:33-34.
Radford, A.E. and D.L.
Martin. 1975. Potential Ecological Natural
Landmarks: Piedmont Region, Eastern United States. Dept. Botany. Univ. North Carlina, Chapel Hill.
Species list
Trees:
Acer
barbatum
Acer
negundo
Bumelia
lycioides
Carpinus
carolinana
Carya
glabra
Celtis
laevigata
Cercis
candensis
Cornus
florida
Fagus
grandifolia
Fraxinus
americana
Fraxinus
pensylvanica
Ilex
opaca
Morus
rubra
Ostrya
virginica
Pinus
taeda
Platanus
occidentalis
Prunus
serotina
Quercus
alba
Quercus
prinus
Quercus
rubra
Tilia
heterophylla
Ulnus
rubra
Shrubs and vines:
Arundinaria
gigantea
Bignonia
capreolata
Calycanthus
floridus
Cephalanthus
occidentalis
Chimaphila
maculata
Cornus
alternifolia
Crataegus
Euonymus
americana
Gelsemium
sempervirens
Hamamalis
virginiana
Lindera
benzoin
Liriodendron
tulipifera
Lonicera
japonica
Parthenocissus
quinquefolia
Philadelphus
inodora
Rhododendron
sp.
Ribes
echinellum
Sambucus
canadensis
Smilax
bona-nox
Smilax
rotundifolia
Staphylea
trifoliata
Toxicodendron
radicans
Viburnum
prunifolium
Viburnum
rufidulum
Herbs:
Actaea
sp.
Adiantum
pedatum
Aesculus
sylvatica
Amphicarpa
bracteata
Anemonella
thalictroides
Antennaria
plantiginifolia
Arisaema
triphyllum
Aristolochia
serpentaria
Asarum
canadense
Asplenium
platyneuron
*Cardamine
angustata
*Carex
blanda
Carex
jamesii
*Carex
retroflexa
Chrysogonum
virginianum
Claytonia
virginiana
Conopholis
virginica
*Corydalis
flavula
Cynoglossum
virginiana
Cystopteris
protrusa
Danthonia
spicata
Dicentra
cucullaria
Dodecatheon
meadia
Dryopteris
marginalis
Duchesnea
indica
Erythronium
americanum
*Euphorbia
commutatus
Festuca
obtusa
Galium
aparine
Geranium
maculatum
Goodyera
pubescens
Hepatica
americana
Heuchera
americana
Hexastylis
arifolia
Hieracium
venosum
Houstonia
caerulea
Hybanthus
concolor
Impatiens
capensis
Isopyrum
biternatum
Laportia
canadensis
*Lithospermum
tuberosum
Luzula
echinata
Melica
mutica
Nemophyla
microcalyx
Nothoscordum
bivalve
Obolaria
virginica
Orobanche
uniflora
Osmorhiza
claytoni
Oxalis
purpurea
Pedicularis
candensis
Phacelia
dubia
Phlox
amoena
Piptochaetium
avenaceum
*Poa
sylvestris
Podophyllum
peltatum
Polygonatum
biflorum
Polystichium
acrosticoides
Prenanthes
altitissima
Ranunculus
abortivus
Ranunculus
recurvatus
Rudbeckia
laciniata
Sanicula
gregaria
Saxifraga
virginica
Senecio
obovatus elliottii
Sisyrinchium
albidum
Smilacina
racemosa
Solidago
sp.
Stellaria
pubera
Thelypteris
hexagonoptera
Tiarella
cordifolia collina
Tradescantia
virginiana
*Trillium
catesbaei
Trillium
cernuum
*Trillium
cuneatum
Trillium
discolor
Trillium
lanceolatum
Urtica
chamaedryoides
Uvularia
perfoliata
Viola
affinis
*Viola
papilionacea
Vitis
rotundifolia
Location: McCormack County, SC;
33ĝ56'15", 82ĝ24'35"W. John
de la Howe School.
Significance: This may be the only
oldgrowth Pinus echinata stand left anywhere on the piedmont. Certainly there are very old pines
(flat-topped) with no regeneration, except in a few beetle-kill areas. Most of the other large trees are
light-demanding types, like Liriodendron and Liquidambar. There are relatively few oaks or other
potential "climax" species in the canopy. Thus, it seems that this is not a stable, steady-state
forest. Theory #1: Disturbance like wind or fire or agriculture
provided a site for invasion of light-demanding tree species. This leads to the prediction that the canopy
trees are even-aged. Theory #2: This forest is the result of 150 years +/-
of fire suppression. The pines were
maintained by fire and the hardwoods were kept out by same. The leads to the prediction that the old
canopy pines should present a broad range of sizes, with a relatively
even-aged, post-fire cohort below them.
These two theories have not, to my knowledge, been tested. Beetle damage has led to some salvage cutting
over the past year or two (see map).
References:
Batson, W.T. et al.
1958. The flora of the John de la Howe
School Forest. Univ. SC Publications in Biology series III. 2(3), September.
Eyre, F.H. 1960. Survey of proposed Natural Forest Areas in
the Southeast. Soc. Am. Foresters.
Lieth, H. 1980. Untersuchengen uber den mineralstoffspiegel
in De la Howe Forest, McCormick County, South Carolina. Veroff. Geobot. Inst.
Rubel 69:162-170.
Species List
Trees
Acer
rubrum
Acer
barbatum
Carya
cordiformis
Carya
glabra
Carya
ovalis
Carya
ovata
Carya
pallida
Carya
alba
Celtis
occidentalis
Cornus
florida
Fagus
grandifolia
Fraxinus
pensylvanica
Ilex
opaca
Juniperus
virginiana
Liquidambar
styraciflua
Liriodendron
tulipifera
Magnolia
acuminata
Morus
rubra
Nyssa
sylvatica
Ostrya
virginiana
Pinus
echinata
Pinus
taeda
Prunus
serotina
Quercus
alba
Quercus
falcata
Quercus
rubra
Quercus
stellata
Quercus
velutina
Ulmus
alata
Shrubs and vines
Aralia
spinosa
Asimina
parviflora
Callicarpa
americana
Dirca
palustris
Euonymus
americana
Gelsemium
sempervirens
Halesia
sp.
Hypericum
stans
Ilex
decidua
Rhus
copallina
Smilax
bona-nox
Smilax
rotundifolia
Smilax
smallii
Toxicodendron
radicans
Vaccinium
elliotii
Vaccinium
stamineum
Viburnum
prunifolium
Viburnum
rufidulum
Vitis
rotundifolia
Herbs
Aristolochia
serpentaria
Asplenium
platyneuron
Aster
divaricatus
Aster
undulatus
Botrychium
virginianum
Chimaphila
maculata
Elephantopus
tomentosus
Eupatorium
purpureum
Euphorbia
comutata
Euphorbia
sp.
Galium
pilosum
Galium
uniflorum sp.
Hexastylis
arifolia
Mitchella
repens
Monotropa
uniflora
Obolaria
virginica
Polypodium
polypodioides
Potentilla
canadensis
Reullia
carolinensis
Sanicula
sp.
Scutellaria
elliptica
Tephrosia
spicata
Tipularia
discolor
Uvularia
perfoliata
Uvularia
sessifolia
Viola
sp.
Hitchcock Woods
Savanna River Bluffs
Location: Aiken County, SC;
Southeast of I-20 on North bank of the Savannah River. From the intersection of
I-20 and SC 230 (Martintown Road): go southeast on 230 (0.5 mi) toward North
Augusta; turn at (most likely first) right onto Plantation Rd; go 0.2 mi and
takefirst road on right; go 0.3 mi and park before the "private
property" signs where the paved road ends, and before the barricade; walk
0.1 mi along the private property road and turn left onto the road; follow the
road to powerline right-of-way and go left to the next ridge; track goes on an
old road, loops within the property and comes back to the powerline.
Site: A 83.84 acre steep ravine adjacent to one of the last remaining
Savannah River shoals along the edge of the coastal plain.
Significance: This site contains
several disjunct mesophytic species that provide support for the hypothesis
that mesic forest may have persisted here during the full glacial period and
that the river bluffs may have formed a corridor for species migration.
There is a population of
Aesculus parviflora which is disjunct nearly 300 km from the nearest
sites in Alabama and SW Georgia. This
may also be the site for colletion of the type specimen collected by John
Fraser and ANdre Michaux in 1787.
Another disjunct tree species is Cladrastis kentukea. Other rare species present at the sites include
Hymenocallis coronaria, Trillium reliquum, Forestiera ligustrina, Acer
leucoderme, Delphinium tricorne and Isopyrum biternatum. (See Wyatt,
R. 1985. Aesculus parviflora in South Carolina: phytogeographical
implications. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club
112:194-195.)
References:
Wyatt, R. 1985. Aesculus parviflora in South
Carolina: phytogeographic implications.
Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 112:194-195.
Species list
Trees
Acer
leucoderme
Acer
negundo
Acer
rubrum
Aesculus
parviflora
Aesculus
sylvatica
Amelanchier
sp.
Carpinus
caroliniana
Carya
glabra
Cercis
canadensis
Cornus
florida
Diospyrus
virginicus
Fagus
grandifolia
Fraximus
americana
Ilex
opaca
Juniperus
virginiana
Liquidambar
styraciflua
Liriodendron
tulipifera
Mitchella
repens
Ostrya
virginiana
Pinus
taeda
Platanus
occidentalis
Quercus
alba
Quercus
nigra
Quercus
phellos
Quercus
rubra
Taxodium
distichum
Tilia
americana caroliniana
Ulmus
alata
Shrubs and vines
Arundinaria
gigantea tecta
Asimina
triloba
Berchemia
scandens
Bignonia
capreolata
Callicarpa
americana
Chionanthus
virginicus
Cornus
alternifolia
Decumaria
barbara
Forestiera
ligustria
Hamamalis
virginiana
Ilex
vomitoria
Lonicera
japonica
Parthenocissus
quinquefolia
Philadelphus
inodorus
Rhamnus
caroliniana
Rhododendron
nudicaulis
Rhus
radicans
Sabal
minor
Sambucus
canadensis
Vaccinium
arboreum
Herbs
Anemonella
thalictroides
Aristolochia
serpentaria
Asplenium
platyneuron
Aureolaria
virginica
Baptisia
pendula
Botrichium
virginianum
Brachyelytrum
erectum
Carex
debilis
Carex
flaccosperma
Carex
gracilescens
Carex
oxylepis
Carex
willdenowii
Chasmanthium
sessiliflorum
Chrysogonum
virginicum
Cladrastis
kentukea
Conopholus
americana
Corydalis
flavula
*Delphinium
tricorne
Dichanthelium
boscii
Dioscorea
villosa
Dodecatheon
meadia
Erythronium
americanum
Galium
aparine
Geranium
maculatum
Hepatica
americana
Heuchera
sp.
Hieracium
venosum
*Hymenocalis
coronaria
Isopyrum
biternatum
Luzula
echinata
Melica
mutica
Myosotis
verna
Nemophila
microcalyx
Osmorhiza
claytonii
Osmorhiza
longistylis
Oxalis
sp.
Oxalis
acetosella
Peltandra
virginica ?
Piptochaetum
avenacea
Polygonatum
biflorum
Polypodium
polypodioides
Polystichium
acrosticoides
Prenanthes
sp.
Salvia
lyrata
Sanicula
canadensis
Satureja
georgiana
Saxifraga
virginica
Senecio
anonymus
Sisyrinchium
spp.
Smilacina
racemosa
Solidago
caesia
Stellaria
pubera
Tillandsia
usneoides
Tradescantia
subaspera
Trillium
reliquum
Uvularia
sp.
Viola
affinus
Viola
walteri
Zepheranthes
atamasco
Zizia
sp.
Location: Lexington County, SC;
Pelion East Quadrangle; 33ĝ51'40"N, 81ĝ14'00"W.
Site: Shealy Pond was formed in
a valley containing seepage slopes by teh damming of a fast moving stream with
a road. An impermeable clay layer
creates boggy conditions on the slope and allows Chamaecyparis to grow. The uplands are covered by fire-suppressed
Pinus palustris woodland typical of the region.
Significance: This is the southern
limit of Chamaecyparis as an important species until the Florida panhandle,
although a few populations occur, such as Camp Gravatt in Aiken County SC and
Fort Gordon, Richmond County, GA. The
most interesting plant species here is Vaccinium sempervirens, a close relative
of V. crassifolium (and perhaps just a variety of it.) V. sempervirens is endemic to Lexington
County, SC and occurs only within about a two mile radius of Shealy Pond. The aquatics in the pond are quite diverse.
References:
Kirkman, W.B., T.R.
Wentworth & J.R. Ballington. 1989.
The ecology and phytosociology of the creeping blueberries, Vaccinium
section Herpothamnus. Bull. Torrey Bot.
Club 116:114-133.
Kirkman, W.B. & J.R.
Ballington. 1990. Creeping Blueberries
(Ericaceae: Vaccinium sect. Herpothamnus) - a new look at V. crassifolium
including V. sempervirens. Systematic
Botany 15:679-699.
Rayner, D.A. and J.
Henderson. 1980. Vaccinium sempervirens
(Ericaceae), a new species from Atlantic white cedar bogs in the sandhills of
South Carolina. Rhodora 82:503-507.
Species List:
Dry, upland sites
Trees
Juniperus
virginianus
Pinus
palustris
Pinus
taeda
Quercus
laevis
Quercus
margaretta
Quercus
marilandica
Quercus
stellata
Sassafras
albidum
Shrubs and vines
Ceratiola
ericoides
Opuntia
humifusa
Vaccinium
arboreum
Vaccinium
stamineum
Vaccinium
tenellum
Herbs
Aristida
lanosa
Aristida
tuberculosa
Aureolata
pectinata
Baptisia
tincoria
Carex
tenax
Chrysopsis
gossypina
Krigia
biflora
Lespedeza
capitata
Minuartia
caroliniana
Selaginella
arenicola
Stipulicida
setacea
Seepage slope and pond
Trees
Acer
rubrum tridens
Chamaecyparis
thyoides
Gordonia
lasianthus
Juniperus
virginianus
Magnolia
virginiana
Nyssa
biflora
Persea
palustris
Pinus
serotina
Shrubs and vines
Alnus
serrulata
Aronia
arbutifolia
Clethera
alnifolia
Cyrilla
racemoiflora
Gaylussacia
frondosa
Gelsemium
sempervirens
Ilex
coriacea
Ilex
glabra
Lyonia
lucida
Myrica
heterophylla
Rhododendron
viscosum
Smilax
rotundifolia
Smilax
glauca
Styrax
americana
Toxicodendron
vernix
Vaccinium
sempervirens
Vaccinium
atrococcum
Viburnum
nudatum
Vitis
rotundifolia
Herbs
Allium
sp.
Andropogon
virginicus
Andropogon
gyrans
Arundinaria
gigantea tecta
Asplenium
platyneuron
Aster
novi-belgii
Bacopa
caroliniana
Bartonia
capitata
Brasenia
schreberi
Burmannia
biflora
Carex
glaucescens
Carex
leptalea
Carex
tenax
Drosera
capillaris
Drosera
intermedia
Drosera
rotundifolia
Dulichium
arundinaceum
Eleocharis
robbinsii
Erianthus
giganteus
Eriocaulon
compressum
Eryngium
integrifolium
Fuirena
squarrosa
Goodyera
pubescens
Hypericum
canadensis
Hypericum
mutilum
Hypericum
perforatum
Juncus
biflorus
Lachnocaulon
anceps
Lobelia
pubera
Lobelia
sp.
Lycopodium
appressum
Lycopodium
caroliniana
Lycopus
cokeri
Mayaca
aubletii
Myriophyllum
sp.
Nuphar
adventa
Nymphaea
odorata
Nymphoides
cordata
Onoclea
sensibilis
Orontium
aquaticum
Osmunda
cinnamonea
Osmunda
regalis
Peltandra
virginica
Platanthera
clavellata
Polygala
lutea
Proserpinaca
pectinata
Pteridium
aquilinum pseudocaudatum
Rhyncospora
spp.
Sarracenea
flava
Sarracenia
purpurea
Sarracenia
rubra
Sarracenia
x catesbyana
Scirpus
etuberculatus
Scirpus
subterminalis
Solidago
patula strictula
Sparganium
americanum
Tipularia
discolor
Utricularia
cornuta
Utricularia
juncea
Woodwardia
areolata
Xyris
sp.
Location: Lexington County, SC; Pelion East Quadrangle.
Significance: One of the few preserved
longleaf pine areas in the sandhill south of Columbia. While the site, like all others, has a
history of fire suppression, the Nature Conservancy has been aggressively
reintroducing growing-season fire. Nice
examples of Vaucluse soils with Kalmia thickets. Some Ceratiola occurs on the dry sandy uplands.
Species List:
*Amsonia
ciliata
Andropogon
sp.
*Aronia
arbutifolia
Arundinaria
gigantea tecta
Asclepias
sp.
Asplenium
platyneuron
Aster
sp.
Baptisia
sp.
*Bonamia
sp.
*Carphephorus
Carya
palida
Calycanthus
florida
Carex
debilis
Carex
folliculata australis
Carex
nigromarginata
Carya
pallida
*Ceanothus
sp.
Ceratiola
ericoides
Cheilanthes
tomentosa
Chimaphila
maculata
Chionanthus
virginicus
Clethera
alnifolia
Coreopsis
verticillata
*Crataegus
sp.
*Cuscata
sp.
Danthonia
sericea
*Desmodium
sp.
Diospyrus
virginicus
*Epigaea
repens
*Eriogonum
tomentosum
*Eupatorium
sp.
Euphorbia
corollata
*Galactia
sp.
*Galax
aphylla
*Gaylussacia
sp.
*Gelsemium
sempervirens
*Gnaphalium
sp.
*Gordonia
lasianthus
*Gymnopogon
sp.
*Hamamelis
virginiana
Hexastylis
sp.
Hieracium
cenosum
Hypericum
lloydii
Iris
verna verna
Kalmia
latifolia
*Leiophyllum
buxifolium
*Liatris
sp.
*Liquidambar
styraciflua
*Lespedeza
sp.
Liquidambar
styraciflua
Lupinus
diffusus
Lysimachia
quadrifolia
Magnolia
virginiana
Marshallia
sp.
Mitchella
repens
Minuartia
caroliniana
Monotropa
uniflora
*Nyssa
sylvatica
Opuntia
humifusa
Passiflora
lutea
Penstemon
sp.
*Persea
palustris
Pinus
palustris
Pleopeltis
polypodioides
Polygonella
polygama
Prunus
serotina alabamense
Pteridium
aquilinum pseudocaudata
Quercus
falcata
Quercus
hemispherica
Quercus
laevis
Quercus
incana
Quercus
marilandica
Quercus
velutina
Satureja
georgia
*Schrankia
sp.
*Scutellaria
sp.
Selaginella
rupestris
Silphium
compositum
Smilax
ecirrhata hugeri
*Solidago
sp.
Sporobolus
junceus
Symplocos
tinctoria
*Tephrosa
sp.
Toxicodendron
pubescens
*Tradescantia
sp.
Vaccinium
stamineum
Vaccinium
tenellum
Viburnum
acerifolium
Woodsia
obtusa
*Yucca
sp.
Location: York County, SC; Lowrys and Edgemoor Quadrangles;
34ĝ50'00"N, 81ĝ07'30"W.
Significance: Camassia flats is in the
center of a region underlain by Gabbro which has weathered to calcareous
shink-swell clays. The entire region
was keep as open grassy savanna in presettlement times, but grew up to woodland
by 1800 as a consequence of fire suppression.
Camassia flats is the best example of the moist or meadow flats of this
prairie or savanna region and still contains many species of midwestern prairie
affinities. In the wet seasons the
soils become very sticky and hard to work; they belong ot the Iredell or Elbert
series (Hapludalfs) in theory, but seem much more like vertisols than the more
"normal" Iredell soils of mafic piedmont sites. Camassia scilloides is the most
famous species present and is known from only two other sites in the Carolinas
(the best known being Camassia slopes on the Roanoke bluffs). Camassia and Zephyranthes atamasco
can dominate the aspect in the spring months. Another rare prairie herb present is Ranunculus fascicularis,
which is not presently known to occur elsewhere in the Carolinas. This is the only site in SC for Scutellaria
parvula and the second site for Carex laxiculmis. The abundance of Quercus bicolor and Q.
palustris is also peculiar to wettish mafic soils that probably supported
oak savannas in presettlement landscape.
Species List:
Trees
Acer
barbatum
Acer
negundo
Carya
carolinae-septentrionalis
Carya
ovata
Celtis
canadensis
Cornus
florida
Fraxinus
pensylvanica
Gleditsia
tricanthos
Juniperus
virginiana
Liquidambar
styraciflua
Morus
rubra
Prunus
serotina
Quercus
bicolor
Quercus
michauxii
Quercus
palustris
Quercus
phellos
Quercus
shumardii
Quercus
stellata
Ulmus
alata
Ulmus
americana
Ulmus
rubra
Shrubs and vines
Campsis
radicans
Clematis
viorna
Euonymous
americana
Hypericum
hypericoides
Lonicera
japonica
Parthenocissus
quinquefolia
Rhamnus
caroliniana
Rubus
sp.
Symphoricarpos
orbiculatus
Toxicodendron
radicans
Viburnum
prunifolium
Vitis
sp.
Herbs
Agrimonia
parviflora
Schoenolirion
bivalve
Allium
canadense
Aspenium
platyneuron
*Aster
dumosus
Aster
sp.
Botrychium
sp.
*Callitriche
heterophylla
Camassia
scilloides
Cardamine
rhomboidea
Cardamine
douglassii
Carex
blanda
Carex
caroliniana/complanata
Carex
cephalophora
Carex
debilis
Carex
flaccosperma
Carex
oxylepis
Casmanthium
latifolium
*Cinna
sp.
Claytonia
virginica
Eleocharis
flavescens/olivacea
Galium
aparine
Galium
obtusum filifolium
Galium
tinctorium
Galium
triflorum
Geum
canadense
Geum
laciniata
Houstonia
caerulea
Hypericum
hypericoides
Isoetes
engelmannii/melanopoda
Lysimachia
ciliata
Melanthium
virginicum
Melica
mutica
Oxalis
acetosella
Phlox
nivalis hentzii
Polygonatum
biflorum
Potentilla
simplex
Prunella
vulgaris
Ranunculus
abortivus
*Ranunculus
fascicularis
*Ruellia
carolinensis
Sanicula
sp.
Saxifraga
virginiensis
Scutellaria
parvula
Sisyrinchium
mucronatum
Smilax
herbacea
Solidago
sp.
*Taenidia
integerrima
*Viola
septemloba
Viola
sororia/papilionacea
Zephyranthes
atamasco
Location: York County, SC; Rock Hill West Quadrangle; 34ĝ55'N, 91ĝ01'W.
Significance: Little is left of the
once extensive upland prairies that covered the gabbro soils of much of York
County SC and adjacent Mechlenberg Co, NC.
By 1800 most of these prairies had grown up to blackjack woodlands owing
to fire suppression; the only places where the prairie flora could persist were
characterized by extremely shallow soils.
Today, the best remaining examples are at Rocky Hill, SC. Much of the "hill" has been
quarried away for the gabbro, but the state of SC has within the past year
purchased a large tract of the remaining land.
Numerous rarities occur in the open glades over these calcareous
soils. During the summer one sees vast
populations of Silphium terebinthinaceum, and rarities like Lobelia
siphilitica which is not currently known from any other sites in the
Carolinas (though there is one historical record from Rockingham County). No species list is currently available to
us, though John Nelson has collected extensively at the site and can be
consulted for further information.
Location: Lancaster County, SC; Taxahaw Quadrangle; 34ĝ39'20"N,
80ĝ31'10"W.
Significance: An exceptionally rich
mesic forest occurs along a diabase dike.
Radford described it as the most impressive in the Carolinas before it
was logged in 1957. Rarities include Caulophylum
thalictroides (only site in SC), Euonymous atropurpureus (only site
in SC), Trillium cernuum (only here and Stevens Creek in SC) and Phlox
stolonifera (three sites in the Carolina piedmont.
Species List:
Trees:
Acer
leucoderme
Acer
negundo
Cornus
florida
Fraxinus
americana
Liquidambar
styraciflua
Platanus
occidentalis
Quercus
muehlenbergii
Ulmus
american
Shrubs and Vines:
Aesculus
sylvatica
Arundinaria
gigantea tecta
Bignonia
capreolata
Euonymous
atropurpureus
Lonicera
japonica
Parthenocissus
quiquefolia
Sambucus
canadensis
Staphylea
trifolia
Herbs:
Actaea
sp.
Amsonia
tabernaemontana
Arisaema
triphyllum triphyllum
Asarum
canadense
Botrychium
virginianum
Carex
blanda
Caulophyllum
thalictroides
Clematis
cirginiana
Collinsonia
canadensis
Corydalis
flavula
Cynoglossum
virginianum
Dentaria
lacinata
Duchesnia
indica
Erythronium
americanum
Festuca
obtusa
Fragaria
virginiana
Galium
aparine
Galium
triflorum
Geranium
maculatum
Geum
canadense
Hexastylis
sp.
Hybanthus
concolor
Osmorhiza
longistylis
Panax
quiquefolium
Phacelia
maculata
Phlox
stolonifera
Podophyllum
peltatum
Polygonatum
biflorum
Polystichium
acrostichoides
Rudbeckia
laciniata
Sanguinaria
canadensis
Sanicula
gregaria
Senecio
glabellus
Smilax
herbacea
Stellaria
pubera
Tiarella
cordifolia
Tovaria
virginiana
Trillium
cernuum
Valerianella
sp.
Viola
tripartita
Location: Lancaster County, SC; Taxahaw Quadrangle; 34ĝ40'05"N,
80ĝ31'40"W.
Significance: Forty Acre Rock is the
most extensive flatrock exposure in the eastern piedmont of South
Carolina. The outcrop covers 5.6 ha and
is part of the 581 ha Flat Creek Heritage Preserve. A number of the classic flatrock endemics are present, though the
area has been damaged by decades of recreational activity.
References:
Huntley, D. 1939. A survey of vegetation of Forty-acre Rock,
Lancaster County, South Carolina.
Master's Thesis, Duke University.
Species List:
Agrostis
hyemalis
Amsonia
tabernaemontana
Arabis
missouriensis
Carex
styloflexa
Desmodium
rotundifolium
Diamorpha
smallii
Erythronium
americanum
Fragaria
virginiana
Heuchera
sp.
Hypericum
lloydii?
Juncus
georgiana?
Luzula
echinata
Minuartia
uniflora
Minuartia
glabra
Nothoscordium
bivalve
Phacelia
maculata
Phlox
nivalis hentzii
Prunus
serotina
Quercus
prinus
Scirpus
koilolepis
Scleria
triglomerata
Sedum
pusillum
Senecio
tomentosus
Silene
caroliniana
Piptochaetium
avenacea
Trillium
catesbaei
Viburnum
prunifolium
Viola
pedata
Location: Stanley County, NC;
35ĝ10'00"N, 80ĝ24'20"W
Site: Calcareous steep bluffs and cliffs of argillite (Carolina slate)
along the Rocky River support an unusual cliff flora. The nearby Rock Hole Creek area is a sandly alluvial community
with a rich herb community.
Significance: The most interesting
plant is Pellaea wrightiana which occurs here and at Little Joe Mountain
in Alexander County, and is otherwise disjunct from Oklahoma and point farther
west. Also on the cliff are more common ferns like Cheilanthes lanosa
and C. tomentosa. Several large
specimens of Acer leucoderme occur along the cliff. Among other interesting plants found in the
Rock Hole Creek bottoms are Dodecatheon meadia, Anemone lanceifolia
and Ophioglossum virginiana.