Peatlands

Land in the Coastal Plain is very flat and rainfall that falls on the ground often can not flow downhill.  It stays in one place until it soaks into the ground.  The type of soil affects how fast water soaks into the ground.  Most of the soils in the Coastal Plain are very sandy.  They allow water to quickly soak into the ground and drain away.  However, water can pond in very flat areas and depressions such as Carolina Bays, forming wetlands.  

If water ponds for long periods of time, a peatland can develop.   The microbes that break down dead plant matter need oxygen.  Ponded water keeps much oxygen from getting into the soil.  This makes decomposition slow down.  Partly broken-down plant matter, called peat, builds up in the soil.  Some peatlands can have as much as 10 feet of peat on top of the soil!

Organic Bay Communities

Because peat does not fully decompose, it does not release the nutrients that most plants need to survive.  Most Bays only get nutrients in small amounts from rainwater.  This makes for a very poor growing environment.  Very few plants can grow under these conditions.

There are 5 distinct plant communities that are found in organic Carolina Bays: low pocosin, high pocosin, pond pine woodland, Atlantic White Cedar forest, and bay forest. 

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