A Rare Plant Survey of Atlantic White-Cedar , Chamaecyparis Thyoides (L.) B.S.P., Habitats Of
A Rare Plant Survey of Atlantic White-Cedar , Chamaecyparis thyoides (L.) B.S.P., Habitats of the Georgia Westcentral Fall Line Sandhills Philip M. Sheridan1&2 and Thomas S. Patrick3 1Meadowview Biological Research Station, 8390 Fredericksburg Tnpk., Woodford, VA 22580, 2Old Dominion University, Department of Biological Sciences, Norfolk, VA 23529-0266, and 3Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Natural Heritage Program, 2117 U.S. Highway 278, S.E., Social Circle, Georgia 30025. Abstract The Georgia Westcentral Fall Line Sandhills are known for their local occurrences of rare and disjunct plant populations. Isolated stands of Atlantic white-cedar along clear, cool, sand- bottomed, spring-fed creeks associate with longleaf pine uplands. Together these two keystone species form the nucleus of a unique ecosystem in westcentral Georgia. During 1998 and 1999 a rare plant survey of Atlantic white-cedar habitats was performed. Typical rare plant species found with Atlantic white-cedar include Carex collinsii, Carex venusta, Fothergilla gardenii Helenium brevifolium, Kalmia carolina, Myriophyllum laxum, Pinguicula primuliflora, Sarracenia rubra, and Schoenoplectus etuberculatus. Noteworthy discoveries included Utricularia floridana, which has only been reported from Georgia in the Lake Seminole region, and a range extension for Macbridea caroliniana. The discovery of Chamaecyparis thyoides on a tributary formerly containing a population of Sarracenia oreophila represents a previously unrecognized plant association for this federally endangered pitcher plant species. New drainages containing Chamaecyparis thyoides were discovered on tributaries of Patsiliga, Beaver, and Horse creeks in Taylor County, Beaver Creek in Crawford County, Black Creek in Talbot County, and Shoal Creek in Marion County. Taken together these discoveries represent significant additions to the distributional knowledge of Atlantic white-cedar in westcentral Georgia.
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