Green Swamp (North Carolina)
| Green Swamp Preserve | |
|---|---|
Sarracenia flava pitcher plants in Green Swamp | |
Map of North Carolina | |
| Location | Brunswick and Columbus counties, North Carolina |
| Coordinates | 34°05′36″N 78°17′57″W / 34.09321°N 78.29925°W |
| Area | 17,424 acres (7,051 ha) |
| Established | 1977 |
| Governing body | Nature Conservancy |
| Designated | 1974 |
The Green Swamp is a swamp that lies in Brunswick and Columbus counties in North Carolina. The 15,907-acre (6,437 ha) swamp was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1974.[1] [2]Today the Nature Conservancy manages a total of 17,424 acres (7051 ha) of the swamp as the Green Swamp Preserve.[3]The carnivorous plant known as the Venus flytrap is found within this swamp, and it is important for other unique and endangered species. North Carolina laws prohibit the removal of these plants from their habitat. The wetlands support a rich ecology and are important as habitat along the Atlantic Flyway of migrating birds and other species.
Green Swamp, North Carolina, is the current tribal homeland of the state-recognized Waccamaw Siouan tribe of Native Americans, one of eight in the state.[4]
Carnivorous plants
The North Carolina Green Swamp is home to many types of carnivorous plant[5] due to its very unique habitat. The wet longleaf pine savannah provides damp. nutrient-poor soil, and open understory; these are all factors that lead to great habitat for carnivorous plants. These plants get their nutrients by trapping insects and then using specialized leaves and enzymes to absorb the nutrients from the insects they capture. Notable carnivorous plants include:
- Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula): A species endemic to a small radius surrounding Wilmington, North Carolina; one of its largest wild populations in the Green Swamp.[6]
- Pitcher plant: A few species, including the yellow pitcher plant (Sarracenia flava), and the purple pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea).[7]
- Pinguicula (butterworts): Yellow butterwort (Pinguicula lutea), and blue butterwort (Pinguicula caerulea) are found in the swamp. These have sticky leaves that trap insects.[8]
- Bladderworts: Eastern purple bladderwort (Utricularia purpurea) and the slender bladderwort (Utricularia subulata) are another type of carnivorous plant present in the area.[9] Have a sweet sticky glad on their leaves that attracts then traps insects.
- Drosera (sundews): The Green Swamp is home to many different species: Drawf Sundew (Drosera brevifolia), Pink Sundew (Drosera capillaris), and Thread-leaved Sundew (Drosera filiformis). Have sticky tentacles that have a sweet smell that draws insects close enough for the plant to trap them.[10]
References
- ^ "National Registry of Natural Landmarks". U.S. National Park Service. June 2009.
- ^ Marinelli, Janet (June 20, 2019). "Forgotten Landscapes: Bringing Back the Rich Grasslands of the Southeast". Yale E360. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
- ^ "Green Swamp Preserve". The Nature Conservancy. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
- ^ Waccamaw Siouan Tribe Homepage. (2014). http://www.waccamaw-siouan.com/
- ^ "Green Swamp Preserve". The Nature Conservancy. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
- ^ "Venus Fly Trap (Dionaea muscipula) | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service". www.fws.gov. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
- ^ "Pitcher plants in North Carolina - List". herbarium.ncsu.edu. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
- ^ "Pinguicula (Butterwort) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox". plants.ces.ncsu.edu. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
- ^ "Utricularia (Bladderwort) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox". plants.ces.ncsu.edu. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
- ^ "Drosera rotundifolia (Common Sundew, Roundleaf Sundew) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox". plants.ces.ncsu.edu. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
External links
- Geographic data related to Green Swamp (North Carolina) at OpenStreetMap
- Green Swamp Preserve at The Nature Conservancy