Bottomland Hardwoods
Bottomland hardwoods account for only a small
portion of the floodplain, primarily on natural levees along river
shores and within the swamp forest. These higher areas are usually
only flooded for brief periods and not always every year. They
support sweetgum, red maple, ash, spruce pine, diamond-leaf oak,
water oak, water hickory, catalpa, and an understory of blue beech,
cabbage palm, needle palm, American holly, cane, and various
grasses and sedges. On the higher areas are swamp chestnut oaks and
a few southern magnolias.
Cypress-hardwood Swamp
Slash and longleaf pine dominate smaller areas with
natural pines. The understory consists of gallberry, wiregrass and
saw palmetto. These areas have previously been thinned and burned.
Selective thinning will create openings that encourage existing
longleaf pine regeneration. Frequent burning will keep these
flatwoods open and grassy and promote the return of species such as
the telephus spurge (Euphorbia telephioides), a federally
threatened plant once found at Box-R.
Pine
Flatwoods
Slash and longleaf pine dominate smaller areas of
pine flatwoods. The understory consists of gallberry, wiregrass and
saw palmetto. These areas have previously been thinned and burned.
Selective thinning will create openings that encourage existing
longleaf pine regeneration. Frequent burning will keep these
flatwoods open and grassy and promote the return of species such as
the telephus spurge (Euphorbia telephioides), a federally
threatened plant once found at Box-R.
Pine
Plantation
The majority of the upland property consists of
planted slash and loblolly pines, both young stands with trees that
range in age from 6 to 14 years and older stands of timber that
were planted 19 to 34 years ago. Commercial thinning, hydrologic
restoration, and reintroduction of a natural fire regime will be
required to restore the natural vegetative communities and to
enhance wildlife habitat. Where appropriate flatwoods now planted
with slash pine will eventually be reforested with longleaf
pine.
Maritime
Hammock
Maritime hammocks are relatively wet hardwood
forests found between uplands and true wetlands. Small areas of
maritime hammock at Box-R consist of live oak, red maple, southern
magnolia, cabbage palm and red cedar. Live oak and cabbage palm
dominate the hydric hammocks located close to floodplain marsh
habitats.
Tidal Freshwater Marsh and
Estuarine Marsh
These fresh, brackish and saltwater marshes are
some of the most productive systems in the world and are vital
habitats for a variety of species. The marshes support vegetation
consisting primarily of sawgrasses, bullrushes, cattails,
cordgrasses, and needlerushes. Small hammocks and winding creeks
are found in large areas of freshwater marsh, primarily sawgrass.
Along these creeks and waterways are water tupelo, ogeechee gum,
cypress, red maple, and ash. On the hammocks, diamond-leaf oak,
cabbage palm, black gum, bay, and maple are common.
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