In the creek floodplain bottomland hardwood species
dominated. Green ash is the most widespread canopy species in the
floodplain. In some it associates primarily with eastern cottonwood while
in others sycamore is the main canopy compliment. Both american hornbeam
and boxelder are common in the midstory. Around the edge of the floodplain
their role is paralleled by florida maple and hophornbeam. These latter
species occur under loblolly pine and an oak, probably cherrybark. One
bottomland species, swamp chestnut oak, is uncommon in the floodplain areas
I saw, but is common along one ridge that protrudes into the floodplain in
a bend in the creek. Swamp trees such as baldcypress and tupelo due not
occur as far inland in South Carolina as Long Cane Creek. 

Two herbaceous
species I am more familiar with in the southern Appalachians occur in the
area. Both trout lily (Erythronium americanum) and ground pine/running
cedar (a lycopod) are present along the borders the floodplain. I was not
able to see the scenic area, which is home to the national champion
shagbark hickory, as a result of a fire that was not quite out, but in the
area I saw I counted 47 tree species.

Species        cbh height
Ash, Green          6'11"     108.8'
Cottonwood, Eastern 11'9"     121.9'
Cottonwood, Eastern 9'10"     123.4'
Cottonwood, Eastern 12'9"     125.5'
Cottonwood, Eastern 10'1"     126.2'
Cottonwood, Eastern 12'8"     132.4'
Elm, American       8'6"
Hophornbeam, Eastern     3'1"
Maple, Florida      4'8"
Maple, Red          10'1"     106.0'
Oak, Water          9'2" 107.5'
Oak, Water          11'4"     ~110'
Pine, Loblolly      10'3"
Redcedar, Eastern   4'9"
Sycamore, American 10'9"     ~116'
Sycamore, American 6'10"     127.4+

     The redcedar may be very tall, but I don't trust my numbers on it.
The disparity between how tall the tree looks and how tall I measured the
tree to be is substantial. The area was also once home to the state
champion white oak. The log that is now laying on the ground is large
enough so that I can not see over it when I stand next to it. The tree was
reported to be 23' cbh. Scattered sweetgums are common in the floodplain,
but they probably do not exceed 125'. Along one tributary tuliptree and
northern red oak are common, but they do not reach exceptional heights.
Loblollies eight to 11' cbh looked to be common. One that has fallen
across the tree was about 90 years old. All of the floodplain looked to be
second growth.

Jess Riddle

These forests of larger second growth trees are primarily hardwood
dominated with occasional pockets of loblolly pine and open areas flooded
by beavers. Many of the species common in the Congaree form the canopy
along Long Cane Creek, but they are present in different proportions.
Cottonwood, sycamore, and cherrybark oak are more common at Long Cane while
sweetgum is much less prolific. The lack of sweetgum may be related to
beaver activity sense most of the sweetgums in the canopy have had the bark
stripped most of the way around their bases. The area lacks coastal plain
species that are present in the Congaree like water tupelo and baldcypress,
but mountain species such as northern red oak and cucumbertree are present.
Florida maple, while listed as occurring in the Congaree, is much more
prominent at Long Cane since the tree is the primary midstory species in
the area. Underneath the florida maples and hophornbeams and hornbeams
that grow among them, the understory is sparse but the ground cover is
often thick with grasses.

     The land along one section of Long Cane Creek has been designated a
scenic area due partially to the large trees that grow in the area. The
best known of these trees is one of the national co-champion shagbark
hickories. The tree, which is listed in the NRBT as being 11'8" cbh and
153' tall, has been a state champion since sometime before 1987. The sign
along the trail that passes near the lists the smaller, and probably older,
dimensions of 10'6" cbh and 135' tall. The tree is a single trunked
individual exhibiting forest grown form. The hickory as reached its
exceptional size on a gentle slope about 50' from the edge of the
floodplain. There are no clear views of the tree's crown during the
summertime, so my measurements are probably to two different leaders and
may not be to the highest twig. From two widely separated positions I
measured the trees height as 127.3' and 130.9'. The tree could easily be
135' tall, and 140' is not out of the question, but the chances of the tree
being 153' are slim to none. The listed circumference of the tree is fine.
Being somewhat generous with the height I picked for midslope, the cbh was
12'1". The tree may have grown slightly since the measurements for the
NRBT were made, and substantially since the sign was erected.

     BCC in the table below refers to Big Curltail Creek, one of the larger
tributaries of Long Cane Creek. The forests along the tributary resemble
those along the main creek, but cottonwood is more wide spread, sycamore is
more common, and black walnut is present. Approximate heights rounded to
the nearest foot were found by shooting vertically with the rangefinder,
and approximate heights rounded to the nearest tenth of a foot are of
floodplain trees where the distance below eye level was conservatively
estimated. Due to summertime conditions, several of the measurements may
be to the highest visible branch but not the absolute top of the tree.
Species codes are the first two letters of the genus and the first to
letters of the specific epithet.

ACBA 5'5" NA   LCC
ACBA 5'4" 65.6'     LCC
ACBA 6'4" 84.9'     BCC
CAVO 8'5" 123.2'    LCC
CAVO 9'9" 126.6'    LCC
FAGR 9'6" NA   LCC
FAGR 9'7" NA   LCC
FRPE 7'5" ~118.8'   BCC
JUNI 5'0" ~105'     BCC
LIST 10'7.5"   NA   LCC
LIST 8'7.5"    ~124.6'   BCC
LITU 8'2" 128.1'    LCC
PITA 8'7" ~125.1'   LCC
PLOC 8'11"     ~123.1'   BCC
PODE 10'5"     ~125'     BCC
PODE 11'2"     ~126.2'   BCC
PODE 10'6.5"   ~134.2'   BCC
QUPA 14'6"     NA   LCC
QUPA 9'5.5"    ~130.4'   BCC
QURU 8'3" 111.1'    LCC
QUSH 9'6" ~116'     LCC

Jess Riddle