Cypress
Swamp
Found along Fisheating Creek and Gopher Gully just east of U.S.
27. The canopy is dominated by bald cypress. Other canopy species
include red maple, sweet bay, and swamp laurel oak. Popash and
cabbage palms occur in the subcanopy. The understory is relatively
open and includes buttonbush and wax myrtle. Lizard's tail is an
abundant herb. Bromeliads and other epiphytes are found in the
branches of the trees and the boots of the cabbage palm leaves.
Freshwater
Marsh
Extensive areas of freshwater marsh are associated with
Fisheating Creek west of Lake Okeechobee for several miles
including Cowbone Marsh and Rainey Slough. Species present, varying
in abundance and dominance, include sawgrass, sand cordgrass, soft
rush, pickerelweed, arrowhead, maidencane, water hyssop, and
cattail. Buttonbush, Carolina willow, and wax myrtle are also
associated with these marshes.
Hardwood
Swamp
Characterized by an abundance of large cabbage palms along with
red maple, swamp laurel oak, water oak, live oak, hackberry,
American elm, loblolly bay, and red bay. Bromeliads and
resurrection fern are common.
Mesic
Hammocks
High-quality mesic (moist) hammocks are found along Fisheating
Creek east of U.S. 27. In one area, part of an old homestead, are
found many more coastal and tropical species including gumbo limbo
and strangler fig. More typical mesic hammock species include live
oak, cabbage palm, red mulberry, soapberry, hackberry, red maple,
and swamp laurel oak in wetter areas.
Persons with Disabilities