Sweetbay Bogs Preserve

Because they provide habitat for a number of rare plant species, bogs are considered to be critical natural communities in the longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) ecosystem, which once covered most of the Gulf Coastal Plain in the southeastern United States. Bogs, that are associated with longleaf pine ecosystems, are also known as Pocosins. Some of the rare plants, that have been identified in the Sweetbay Bogs Preserve, include:^[1]

• Bog spicebush (Lindera subcoriacea)
• Coast sedge (Carex exilis)
• Flame flower (Macranthera flammea)
• Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia)
• Harper's yellow-eyed grass (Xyris scabrifolia)
• Large beakrush (Rhynchospora macra)
• Pineland bog button (Lachnocaulon digynum)
• Southern butterwort (Pinguicula primuliflora)

In addition, the Preserve contains typical bog plants, such as sundews (Drosera), butterworts (Pinguicula), bladderworts (Utricularia) and pitcher plants (Sarracenia). The area is also home to rare gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus).^[1]

The Nature Conservancy uses periodic prescribed burning on the site to restrict growth of competing plant species while encouraging flowering and seed production of native bog plants.^[1] Land use activity around the Preserve is restricted so that water flow patterns and water storage capacity are maintained to insure survival of the habitat.^[2]