Granny Creek Bay
Location
County: Forrest County
Forest: National Forests in Mississippi
District: De Soto Ranger District (formerly Black Creek Ranger District)
View a searchable map for the Granny Creek Bay RNA.
Related Reports and Publications
- Eakes, Clifton B. 1989. Studies on the life history and habitat of the bogstar (Parnassia grandifolia) in south Mississippi. Ms thesis. University of Southern Mississippi. 74 p
Ecological and Physical Description
Plant Communities: Granny Creek Bay is a hardwood bay bordered on three sides by slopes with stands of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) and slash pine (P. elliottii). The northern end of the site is bordered by a mixture of hardwood trees and shrubs. A population of grass of Parnassus (Parnassia grandifolia), grows in and around the stream that flows through the bay. (Eakes, 1989). Plant diversity of the area is high and fifty–one plant species have been identified in the bog area.
Dominant tree species include swamp cyrilla (Cyrilla racemiflora), yellow–poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana), and blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica var. biflora).
Total precipitation in July, the wettest month, is 6.14” and in October, the driest month, it is 1.58”.
The nearest weather station is at the Ashe Nursery, located five miles (8 km) southeast of the RNA.
The geology of the area consists of marine sediments of recent, pleistocene, pliocene and miocene origin. Benndale, Mc Laurin and Heidel soils, which are gently sloping to steep, well-drained, loamy and sandy soils, are found on the uplands in this area. Poarch, Susquehanna, and Saucier soils are also found. Trebloc and Latonia soils, which are nearly level, poorly drained and well drained, silty and loamy soils, are found on terraces and floodplains.
Small seeps and an underground stream form the stream that flows through the bay. In the bay, the stream separates into small streamlets. An underground spring provides sufficient water that the substrate is covered by stream water year round.
Flora and Fauna
Common Plant Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Category | At Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grass-of-Parnassus | At Risk Species | ✔ | A rare plant in the South. |
|
| Peltandra sagittifolia | At Risk Species | ✔ | A locally rare plant. |
|
| Cliftonia monophylla | Buckwheat tree | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Ilex coriacea | Large gallberry | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Illicium floridanum | Florida anise tree | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Itea virginica | Virginia willow | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Myrica heterophylla | Evergreen bayberry | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Pinus taeda | Loblolly pine | Plant Communities | ||
| P. elliottii | Slash pine | Plant Communities | ||
| Parnassia grandifolia | Parnassus | Plant Communities | ||
| Cyrilla racemiflora | Swamp cyrilla | Plant Communities | ||
| Liriodendron tulipifera | Yellow-poplar | Plant Communities | ||
| Magnolia virginiana | Sweetbay | Plant Communities | ||
| Nyssa sylvatica var. biflora | Blackgum | Plant Communities | ||
| Parnassia grandifolia | Grass-of-Parnassus | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Pinguicula primuliflora | Butterwort | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Rhynchospora sp. | Common Herbaceous Species | |||
| Spaghnum sp. | Sphagnum | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Mayaca fluviatilis | Stream bogmoss | Common Herbaceous Species |
Common Animal Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Category | At Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gopherus polyphemus | Gopher tortoise | At Risk Species | ✔ | |
| Sciurus carolinensis | Grey squirrel | Common Mammal Species | ||
| S. niger | Fox squirrel | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Meleagris gallopavo | Turkey | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Sylvilagus floridanus | Cottontail rabbit | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Procyon lotor | Raccoon | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Vulpes fulva | Red fox | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Urocyon cinereoargenteus | Grey fox | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Didelphis virginiana | Opossum | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Dasypus novemcintus | Armadillo | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Mephitis mephitis | Striped skunk | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Spiogale putorius | Spotted skunk | Common Mammal Species |