Atlantic White Cedar Wetlands in West-Central Georgia

Abstract

In west-central Georgia, a disjunct metapopulation of Atlantic White Cedar Chamaecyparis thyoides (L.) BSP. occurs, forming distinct wetland communities that define habitat for other rare and endangered plant species. Regional distribution of White Cedar communities in west-central Georgia was analyzed and characterized by floristic composition and stand structure. These wetlands have an extremely localized and patchy distribution and take on several characteristics in this region ranging from younger mono-dominant stands to mixed species stands with a small number of very large White Cedar specimens. White Cedar is an important early successional species, colonizing or regenerating after disturbance, including fire and flooding.