Cartwheel Bay (S.C.)

Although many Carolina Bays are temporary ponds that hold water only part of the year, these wetlands host a variety of wildlife, providing valuable habitat for such animals as frogs, salamanders, turtles, snakes and alligators. Many birds, such as herons, egrets and migratory waterfowl, live in Carolina bays. Also mammals, such as deer, raccoons, skunks and opossums get food and water from Carolina bays. In addition, microscopic organisms called zooplankton live in Carolina bays. Salamanders and frogs are among the most abundant wildlife found in Carolina bays. As amphibians, these animals spend part of their lives in the water; as adults, they depend on Carolina bays as breeding sites where they lay their eggs.

Average water depth and soil type have a large influence on the types of plants found in and around Carolina bays. Many bays contain trees such as black gum, sweet gum, magnolia, bald cypress and maple, and shrubs such as sumac, button bush, gallberry and red bay. Also common in Carolina bays are water lilies, sedges and various grasses. Cartwheel Bay also offers several varieties of rare and beautiful carnivorous plants.

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Sphagnum  | Cartwheel Bay (S.C.)
Sphagnum | Cartwheel Bay (S.C.)

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Sphagnum cymbifolium • Economically important species • Pale green-gray color • Poorly developed vascular system • Lacks true roots, stems or leaves • Often used with other plants in hanging baskets...
Sundew | Cartwheel Bay (S.C.)
Sundew | Cartwheel Bay (S.C.)

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• Drosera rotundifolia • Insectivorous herb • White flowers in elongated, one-sided cluster • Flowers on leafless stalk rise above rosette of small, reddish, sticky basal leaves • Radially symmetrical...
Sweet Bay | Cartwheel Bay (S.C.)
Sweet Bay | Cartwheel Bay (S.C.)

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Magnolia virginiana • Evergreen tree • Dark, glossy oval leaves with blue-gray on undersides • Fragrant white flowers 2 - 3 inches in diameter • Maximum height of 60 feet • Trunk diameter up to 20...
Sweet Pitcher Plant | Carthweel Bay (S.C.)
Sweet Pitcher Plant | Carthweel Bay (S.C.)

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Sarracenia rubra • Carnivorous plant • Slender, erect trumpet • 10 - 50 cm (4 - 20 inches) tall • Foliage green-veined with red • Very fragrant flowers like English Violets • Habitats include sandy...
Toothache Grass | Carthweel Bay (S.C.)
Toothache Grass | Carthweel Bay (S.C.)

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Ctenium aromaticum • Tufted perennial • Does well in pine savannahs • Base contains old fibrous leaf bases • Fresh herbage and inflorescence, when bruised or crushed • Very aromatic like citrus •...
Trumpet Pitcher Plant | Cartwheel Bay (S.C.)
Trumpet Pitcher Plant | Cartwheel Bay (S.C.)

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Sarracenia flava Carnivorous plant 60 - 90 cm (2 - 3 feet) with nodding, brown-red flowers Clusters of erect, hollow, pitcher-like leaves Leaves colored at top with red-purple veins on white...
Venus Flytrap | Cartwheel Bay (S.C.)
Venus Flytrap | Cartwheel Bay (S.C.)

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Dionaea muscipula Unique to the two Carolinas Endangered Carnivorous plant 10 - 30 cm (4 - 12 inches) tall with white flowers cluster atop leafless stalk Stalk rises above rosette of bristly, folded...
Wild Indigo | Cartwheel Bay (S.C.)
Wild Indigo | Cartwheel Bay (S.C.)

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• Baptista tinctoria • Smooth, bushy perennial 90 cm (3 feet) tall • Numerous elongated terminal clusters of yellow pea-like flowers • Flowers 1.3 cm (0.5 inches) long • Leaves palmately compound •...