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Betsy Purdum
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Flatwoods
Flatwoods dominate the upland portions of Half Moon that were
not converted to pastures; they are characterized by a sparse
overstory of longleaf pine and a moderately dense understory of saw
palmetto and oaks. On more poorly drained sites, slash and loblolly
pine dominate the overstory.
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Effie Smith
Butterfly Milkweek
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Sandhill
One small 15-acre natural stand of sandhill remains on the area.
Its overstory consists of longleaf pine, with a ground cover of
wiregrass. Its midstory is a mix of scattered turkey and post oaks
interspersed among dense stands of blackjack oak. Projects to
restore old pastures to open pinelands include planting longleaf
pine.
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Nancy Dwyer
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Hammock
Hardwood hammocks, with their ancient oaks and open understory,
occur widely over Half Moon. These hammocks represent a climax
community in the process of ecological succession; fire no longer
penetrates or carries into this habitat.
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Feral hogs foraging on dry marsh.
Biologist Nancy Dwyer is looking into limestone caves
where alligators sometimes hide. Here, streams
disappear and resurface.
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Wetlands
Freshwater wetlands comprise 40 percent of Half Moon WMA. Half
Moon contains a diverse assemblage of wetlands. In emergent
wetlands, common plants include maidencane, saw grass, sand
cordgrass, and pickerel weed. Bald cypress, ironwood, live oak, red
maple, and blackgum are found in forested wetlands. Shrub-scrub
wetlands species include wax myrtle, fetterbush, red chokeberry,
and Carolina willow.
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