Jacques Cousteau Reserve, New Jersey

Jacques Cousteau Reserve, New Jersey

Flora (Plant Life)

Upland forest areas support two major vegetation types, namely pine-oak forest and oak-pine forests. The dominant tree is the pitch pine (Pinus rigida). In no other region in North America does the pitch pine cover such an extended area. Other abundant species include short-leaf pine (Pinus echinata) and oaks of several species: scrub (Quercus ilicifolia), blackjack (Quercus marilandica), black (Quercus velutina), red (Quercus falcata), white (Quercus alba) and chestnut (Quercus prinus = Q. montana). The most common oak species north of the Mullica River is the black oak; in the south, the scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea) becomes prominent. The understory of these forests is a variety of shrubs, mostly of the oak and heath family, such as lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium vacillans) and black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata). Typical ground cover includes lichens, mosses, bracken fern and members of the heath family (bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) and teaberry (Gaultheria procumbens)).

Lowland forest areas are composed of Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparia thyoides), red maple (Acer rubrum), pitch pine (Pinus rigida), black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), gray birch (Betula populifolia), sassafras (Sassafras albidum) and sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana). Other species found on the periphery may contain sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua), pin oak (Quercus palustris), willow oak (Q. phellos), basket oak (Q. michauxii) and water oak (Q. nigra). Pitch pine lowlands are characterized by a dense canopy of pitch pine, often occurring in depressions and as narrow bands along stream and swamp banks. Secondary trees may include red maple, blackgum and sweet bay magnolia.

Lowland forest understory growth tends to be more varied than upland growth, with sheep laurel (Kalmia angustifolia), stagger-bush (Lyonia mariana), dangleberry (Gaylussacia frondosa), black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata) and sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia) as prominent shrubs. Sheep laurel is especially abundant in these areas, while leather-leaf (Chamaedaphne calyculta) occupies the margins of standing water. Ground cover layers are also quite diverse and well developed, with bracken ferns (Pteridium aquilinum), teaberry (Gaultheria procumbens) and moss lichen vegetation. Cedar swamps and sphagnum bogs are scattered throughout the pine lowlands, with the dominant tree being the Atlantic white-cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides).

Brackish tidal marshes are dominated by Typha anqustifolia, Spartina cynosuroides, Phragmites australis and Scirpus americanus, along with associated species. Salt marshes primarily consist of Spartina alterniflora, S. patens and Distichlis spicata, occurring near the coast and along the lower Mullica River. High marsh areas that are flooded less regularly are characterized by Spartina patens, Distichlis spicata, Juncus gerardii. Species characteristic of the areas salt pannes include Salicornia bigelovii, S. europea, S. virginica, Atriplex patula and Pluchea purpurascenes. Along the marsh-upland borfer, typical species include Spartina patens, Sabatia docecandra, S. stellaris. Solidago sempervirens, Phragmites australis, Baccharis halimifolia and Iva fructescens.

Dune covered regions are generally dominated by Ammophila breviligulata. Other species include Solidago sempervirens , Cakile edentula, Euphorbia polygonifolia, Lathyrus japonicus, Lechea maritima. In the protected portions of the back dunes, Hudsonia tomentosa is dominant. Vegetation of the barrier islands include dune grass, Ammophilia, first anchoring the sand in the foredunes and a mix of bayberry, heather and marsh elder dominating the back dune. The few freshwater pockets, lying around the islands, are occupied by typical grasses, sedges and flowering plants.