Wetland Communities - Floodplain Swamps
 

View of floodplain forest along the St. Lucie River, Martin County, Florida. Note the tropical aspect of this swamp with tropical ferns and epiphytes. (Field Guide)

Floodplain Swamps are associated with rivers and streams. These are natural features influenced by overflow and inundation from a flood event. The most diverse assemblage of floodplain trees are found on the larger rivers of northwest Florida. While in subtropical Florida, rare ferns and orchids might be discovered in the floodplains of south Florida. Although there are few rivers that have not been severely hydrologically altered in south Florida, the St. Lucie and Loxahatchee River have remnant examples of floodplain forest (salt water intrusion is slowly converting freshwater floodplain into mangrove swamp). Floodplains are both wetlands and surface waters and are typically flooded for a portion of the growing season. Look for hydrologic indicators during dry periods such as rafted debris, elevated lichen lines, buttressed trees, river wash and sediment deposition and stain lines. Often the ordinary high water line can be determined by observing the elevation of hydrologic indicators. When gauge data is available the mean annual flood can be calculated. As their name would indicate floodplains are important landscapes that help alleviate the disastrous effects of flooding and provide important habitat for many of Florida’s most imperiled plants and animals.  See illustrated plant ID cards for common plants.

The following is a list of the major plants associated with floodplains swamps in south Florida.

Canopy

Botanical name	Common name	DEP status
Acer rubrum	red maple	FACW
Annona glabra	pond apple	OBL
Carya aquatica	water hickory	OBL
Ficus aurea	strangler fig	FAC
Fraxinus caroliniana	popash	OBL
Ilex cassine	dahoon holly	OBL
Magnolia virginiana var. australis	sweetbay magnolia	OBL
Nyssa sylvatica var. biflora	swamp tupelo	OBL
Persea palustris	swamp bay	OBL
Quercus laurifolia	swamp laurel oak	FACW
Quercus virginiana	live oak	UPLAND
Sabal palmetto	cabbage palm	FAC
Taxodium ascendens	pond cypress	OBL
Taxodium distichum	bald cypress	OBL

 

Subcanopy and Groundcover

Botanical name	Common name	DEP status
Acrostichum danaeifolium	leather fern	OBL
Aster carolinianus	climbing aster	OBL
Blechnum serrulatum	swamp fern	FACW
Cornus foemina	swamp dogwood	OBL
Crinum americanum	swamp lily	OBL
Itea virginica	Virginia willow	OBL
Osmunda cinnamomea	cinnamon fern	FACW
Osmunda regalis	royal fern	OBL
Thalia geniculata	fire flag	OBL
Viburnum obovatum	Walter’s viburnum	FACW
Woodwardia virginica	chainfern	FACW