NOTEWORTHY PLANT SPECIES FROM THE OKEFENOKEE SWAMP, GEORGIA

6 Pages·1995·3.6 MB·English

by  Kent A Williges

NOTEWORTHY
FROM
PLANT THE OKEFENOKEE
SPECIES
GEORGIA—
SWAMP,
Swamp
The
Okefenokee on
located the Atlantic
is
The swamp
Coastal Plain in southeast Georgia and northeast Florida. sur-
km-
3826
face area of includes parts of Ware, Clinch, Charlton, and Echols
counties, Georgia, and Baker County, Florida. There are a number of dis-
swamp, swamp
tinct habitat types within the including and
forests, tree
shrub islands, grass-sedge marshes, emergent macrophyte marshes, and open
&
lakes (Greening Gerritsen 1987). Sand and peat are the two soil types in
swamp. Marine
the or lacustrine sandy soils occur in large islands, uplands,
and immediately Suwannee dam
east of the River a low earthen
Sill, i.e.
&
impounding Suwannee The
the River (Parrish Rykiel 1979). majority of
swamp 5m
the substrate peat (96% organic matter) up deep (Cohen
to
is
1973).
The
flora of Okefenokee has been of interest to botanists since the early
when M. made
1900s Roland Harper
the extensive investigation of
first
swamp
Over
the vegetation (Trowell 1988). the following years further
swamp
description of the has been provided by Wright and Wright
flora
Cypert and The most com-
(1932), (1961; 1972; 1973), Schlesinger (1978).
prehensive checklist of the vascular plants of Okefenokee was compiled by
Loew
and Jones (1984) from plant surveys conducted during the growing
seasons of August 1978-September 1980. Their documents 101
checklist
species of vascular plants representing 53 famihes.
The Swamp
large surface area and inaccessibility of remote regions of the
have hindered comprehensive As few
botanical surveys. a result a species,
particularly sedges, have been overlooked. This manuscript documents spe-
cies which should be added to the checklist of vascular plants occurring in
Okefenokee Swamp,
the Georgia.
The observations reported herein result from more than two years
(July
1992-December made
1994) of collecting and observations conjunc-
in
tion with a project entitled "The Effects of Hydrologic Alterations on the
Swamp"
Ecology of the Okefenokee (Loftin et unpublished data). Plants
al.,
Many
were collected by various methods. specimens were collected during
species composition, biomass, and cover estimates along 80 permanent
emergent macrophyte Durdin,
transects established in four prairies (Chesser,
Floyd's, and Sapling Prairies), and the Suwannee River floodplain near the
Some
Sill. specimens were obtained as seedlings germinating from soil cores
collected along the permanent transects. These cores were used in seed
soil
bank experiments, and seedlings were germinated from the cores under
greenhouse conditions near the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area (Charlton
grown
Co., Georgia). Before harvesting the sample, the seedlings were un-
Swamp
Oktffenokee during the course of our investigations. Although most
common
specimens
(except Rhynchospora alba) are fairly species reported
previously in Georgia, there no documentation for these species from the
is
Okefenokee Swamp. These species should be added to the checklist of vas-
cular plants of Okefenokee. Voucher specimens for those species described
herein have been donated to the herbaria of the University of Georgia,
Athens (GA), and the University of Florida, Gainesville (FLAS). As noted
previously, some specimens were obtained from cores during seed bank
soil
experiments. For these specimens, the locality stated the were the
site
is
was Although
soil core obtained. all species described herein were observed
the the core specimens were of herbarium-quality. Nomencla-
in field, soil
Wooten
Godfrey and
ture follows that of 1979a,
b).
(
Poaceae
N
km
Muhl.
Efianthus giganteus (Walt.) Georgia. Charlton Co.: 1.6 of
&
Dinner Pond, 500 mi E Dec
of Sapling Prairie boat 15 1994, Loftw
trail,
NWR,
138 (GA); Okefenokee 28 Oct
O'Neill Floyd's Prairie, 1992, Wilhges
& &
20a (FLAS); 20b (GA). Enanthus
Loftin Williges Loftin gtganteus a
is
cool season grass flowering September-October (Radford et al. 1968). It is
common
and found growing throughout most swamp.
fairly prairies of the
Although Loew and
Jones (1984) reported collecting Michx.
E. hrevibarbiis
we
during their surveys, have yet to observe this species in the Be-
field.
Loew
cause and Jones (1984) collected during the growing season, they
may
have overlooked E. giganteiis since most conspicuous in the
it is fall. It
questionable whether swamp.
is E. brevibarhus actually occurs in the E.
&
giganteus has been previously reported from Charlton County (Jones Coile
Cyperaceae
m
Carex Muhl. Georgia. Ware 650 E Ham-
verrucosa Co.: of Craven's
&
mock
300
Island, rn S of Craven's Lake, l4 Jan 46
199.3, Willtges Loftin
m
Swamp
(FLAS); Suwannee Creek Bridge on Perimeter Road, 200
ca S of
m N
&
Woods Aug
Piney Lake, 200 of Suwannee Lake,
31 1993, Wi/liges
O'Neill 2.09 (GA). Because this species prefers sandy sites in the refuge,
it
"swamp
not found in the proper," where peat predominate. For
is soils
i.e.
swamp
this reason, has been excluded from previous studies. Since this
it
common
Suwannee
shallow water of the River
species in relatively east
is
should be included the of Okefenokee. These specimens
in flora
Sill,
it
&
new Ware County
represent records for (Jones Coile 1988).
m
Cyperus Muhl. Georgia. Charlton Co.: ca 900 E of the
erythrorhtzos
m
Suwannee River 900 S of Mack's Island, 16 Sep 1993, Williges,
Sill,
& &
Although
111 (GA), 1.12 (FLAS).
Loftin O'Neill Williges, Loftin O'Neill
these voucher specimens were grown from soil cores, this species has been
swamp
observed growing in disturbed sites, such as floating peat recently
new
dredged from the canoe of Chesser Prairie. These specimens are
trails
&
County
records Charlton (Jones Coile 1988).
for
m
E
Eleocharis vivipara Link. Georgia. Charlton Co.: ca 20 of the Sapling
N
km
May
Dinner Pond, 2^
Prairie Boat Trail, 2.4 of 1993, Wtlliges, Loftin,
km NE
&
Ware Suwannee
O'Neill 68 (FLAS); Georgia. Co.: ca 3-5 of River
&
Hammock
Apr
on Craven's Canoe Trail, 19 1994, Williges O'Neill
Sill,
we
127 (GA). These specimens represent the few E. vivipara observed with
mature spikelets. Eleocharis vivipara one of four spikerush species that
is
culm
by produced from the
reproduce vegetatively shoots sterile spikelets at
&
apex (Ward Leigh Submersed mats of vegetatively reproducing
1975).
Eleocharis are common directly east of the Suwannee River Sill. Most of our
Loew
undetermined
collections in this area are either E. vivipara or species.
Chapm.,
and Jones (1984) reported collecting E. haldwinii (Torr.) also a
We
submersed, vegetatively reproducing species. suspect that both E.
vivipara and E. baldwinii are found in the swamp, and possibly a third spe-
with dominance determined by hydrologic
cies, E. microcarpa Torr., species
conditions.
Durdm
Rhynchospora alba Vahl. Georgia. Charlton Co.: Prairie ca 1.5
(L.)
W
&
km
100 16 Sep
S of Flag Lake, rn of boat 1993, Williges, Loftin
trail,
m
no
Durdin 300 SE Durdin 100
O'Neill (FLAS); Prairie ca rn of Lake,
NE &
of boat 24 Sep 1993, Williges, Loftin O'Neill 114 (GA). These
trail,
from Southeast Georgia
specimens represent the records of this species
first
and are the southernmost records in the U.S. Prior records of R. alba exist
Rabun County the Blue Ridge province of northeast Georgia (Duncan
for in
&
Of
Okefenokee
Kartesz 1981). interest is that the habitat of i?, alba in is
commonly Ac-
not what associated with this species in other regions.
is
and found
cording to Gale (1944), R. alba considered rare in Virginia,
is
West North
southward only mountain bogs of Virginia, Caro-
in scattered
Wooten
and Puerto Rico. Godfrey and (1979a) state this species
lina, is
found open, sphagnous bogs from Newfoundland to Maryland, and south
in
in the mountains to North Carolina. Radford et al. (1968) report this spe-
Our
North voucher specimens were germi-
very Carolina.
cies rare in
is
778
SiDA
16(4)
from from Durdin Although
natecl soil cores collected Prairie. not
it is
common, we
have observed R. alba growing in the southern edge of Durdin
where white make
Prairie, the scales of this species conspicuous.
fairly
it
Durdin
Prairie is one of the least studied regions of the swamp. The un-
stable floating vegetation mats make
characteristic of the
prairie travel in
this area extremely difficult without the aid of air boats. For this reason few
plant investigations have been done which may why
in this region, explain
We
this species has been overlooked. have found
also this species reproduc-
ing Southeast Chesser Although
in
Prairie. this prairie in general has a
more
submersed
solid, peat substrate, the prairie fringe consists of floating
mats
peat similar to those found throughout Durdin The Chesser
Prairie.
Prairie samples were found mat
in this floating peat
fringe.
Rhynchospora
cephalantha Gray. Georgia. Charlton
Co.: Floyd's Island Prai-
m m N
700 E Suwannee
of 100
rie, River, of Floyd's Prairie Canoe
Trail,
& &
20 88 W^ges
Jul 1993, Williges Loftm (FLAS); 89 (GA). Loew
Loftin
and
Jones (1984) reported collecting four species oi Rhynchospora:
R.
fascicularis (Michx.) Vahl, R. inundata (Oakes) Fern., R. mkrocephala Britt.
ex Small, and R. wrightiana Boeck. Rhynchospora cephalantha and
R.
vikrocephala are similar in general features and are not always distinguish-
&
Wooten
able (Godfrey 1979a). Records of phalantha have been
i^. re-
&
ported from Charlton and Echols counties Qones Coile 1988). Although
we
have not observed swamp,
mkrocephala
R. in the possible both spe-
it is
cies are present. Therefore, likely that six species of Rhynchospora occur
it is
in the Okefenokee Swamp.
Sclerta retkulans Michx. Georgia. Charlton
Co.: Floyd's Island Prairie, ca
m
N
700 E Suwannee
of River, 100 rn of Floyd's Praine Canoe 18
Trail,
Aug &
1993, Williges, Loftm O'Neill 102 (FLAS). Ware Chesser
Co.: Prai-
W
m
ca 700 of Seagrove Lake, 700 E 4 Aug
rie, rn of boat
1993,
trail,
&
Wiinges, Loftm O'Neill 100 (GA). These specimens were germinated from
and new Ware
soil cores represent records and Charlton
for counties
(Jones
&
Coile
1988). Scleria retkularis has also been found on exposed, floating
mats
peat in south Chesser occurrence
Prairie. Its in the field corresponds
summer
to periods of drawdown, when
the peat becomes
surface exposed.
J Michx.
uncus repens Georgia. Charlton Co.: Suwannee River ca
Sill area,
m
300 E of Middle 24 May &
Island, 1993, 62
Williges, Loftin O'Neill
m
(FLAS); Suwannee River 1100 SE May
Sill area, ca of Pine Island, 24
&
1993, Wtlliges, Loftm ONetll 63 (GA). These voucher specimens were
ger-
minated from which
soil cores in they produced a diagnostic inflorescence.
L995
commonly
This species found in relatively shallow water and sandy soils
is
We
Hammock
Suwannee
near the River and the Craven's canoe
Sill
trail.
have observed only the submersed form the spreading by rooting
in field,
without
at the nodes, flowering stems. usually does not flower unless
It
&
drawdown Wooten
exposed during a (Godfrey 1979a). This species
is
swamp
not found in the proper, but should be included in the Okefenokee
commonness
flora due to its within the refuge. Junucs repens has been previ-
&
Ware
ously collected from Charlton and counties Jones Coile 1988).
(
Onagraceae
data Suwannee
Ludwigia Ell. Georgia. Charlton Co.: River Sill area, ca
m
&
E
300 Middle
of Island, 19 Jul 1993, Wtlltges, Loftm O'Neill 83 (FLAS);
&
Williges, Loftin O'Neill 84 (GA). This species frequent in sandy soils
is
Suwannee
near the River Ludwigia alata usually found along the
Sill. is
edge of canoe in relatively shallow water, frequently established on
trails
and produces numerous, submersed, Previous
floating logs, basal stolons.
field collections consisted of the stoloniferous form only, and was not
it
we
our voucher specimens germinated from obtained
until cores that
soil
specimens with mature flowers. a frequently occurring plant in the
It
is
new
v/estern portions of the refuge on sandy These specimens are
sites.
&
County
records for Charlton (Jones Coile 1988).
The
authors wish thank D. O'Neill
to
D. Hall specimen
collection, for identifica
verification of R. alba samples, K. Perkins
fc
preparation, and the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge for access to
field sites and permission to collect samples. This research was funded by
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Biological Service un-
Work
der Cooperative Agreement #14-16-0009-1544, Research Order #87.
—
and
Kent A. Williges Cynthia Loftin\ National Biological Coop-
S. Service,
&
Box 110450,
erative Fish Wildlife Research Unit, P.O. University of Florida,
FL
32611-0430,
U.S.A.
Gainesville,
lEN, A.D. 1973. Petrology of some holocene peat sediments from the Okefenol
Am.
narsh complex of southern Georgia. Geol. Soc. Bull. 84:3867-3878.
Swamp
on burned Okefenokee following
1973. Plant succession areas in
of 1954 and 1955, Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conf. 12:199-217.
fires
Duncan, W.H. and Kartesz. 1981. Vascular of Georgia an annotated checklist.
flora
J.T.
University of Georgia Press, Athens.
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.
West Rhodora 46:89-278.
Indies.
Wooten.
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J.W.
United Monocotyledons. University of Georgia Press, Athens.
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1979b. Aquatic and wetland plants of southeastern United States, Dicoty-
Georgia Athens.
ledons. University of Press,
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J.
Swamp, 28:113-
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The
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Jr.
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Jr.
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