FNAI COMMUNITY:

Basin Marsh, Depression Marsh

STAGE DESCRIPTION

• Overstory: Few to no trees present.  Cypress may exist (Florida Natural Areas Inventory, 1990).
• Mid Story: Shrubby vegetation can include wax myrtle or coastal plain willow often in the center of the marsh with a surrounding band of St. John's wort.  Other common plants include panicum, common reed, cutgrass, southern watergrass, pennywort, Spanish needle, redroot, soft rush, American lotus, water primrose, arrowhead, coastal plain willows, saltbush, elderberry, spikerush, knotweed, buttonbush, dog fennel, St. John's wort , yellow-eyed grass, chain fern, wax myrtle, swamp primrose, bloodroot, fire flag, pickerelweed, arrowheads, and bladderwort (Florida Natural Areas Inventory, 1990).
• Ground Cover: Much of a basin/depression swamp is covered with water.  On land, herbs and grasses that can withstand inundation for great length exist (Florida Natural Areas Inventory, 1990).
• Duff/Litter Layer: Organic duff can be several feet deep.  Litter composed mostly of hardwood tree and woody vegetation debris (Kushlan, 1990).