Vegetation in the Everglades

          Everglades Tours Website

                 The Everglades are comprised of more than 100 marsh plant species that live in water during all or most of the year. Its most well-known wetland plant is sawgrass, a thick grass-like species that has formed thousands of acres of marshes. These sawgrass fields are also called the Everglades river of grass, because they grows very dense and cover large areas of land. There are also many floating plants that inhabit the deeper water of the marshes including bladderwort, and the white water lily. Periphyton algae also lives among these water based plants. This algae floats in mats on or just below the water's surface, and is the base of food webs for most of the aquatic ecosystems in the Everglades. 

          Everglades Imagery Website

               Another important part of the Everglade's vegetation are the tree islands and the hardwood hammocks. Tree islands are small woodlands containing relatively short trees and shrubs that have adapted to the wet landscape. They provide a shelter and food source to the many mammals that live in the Everglades and are a breeding ground for many native birds. Tree islands have been given that name because of the trees that make up the majority of their space, like the bay, willow and cypress, but they also shelter many other plants such as orchids, ferns, and bromeliads. The hardwood hammocks are similar in nature to the tree islands, but are generally located in drier areas, and support trees which are better suited to that climate, such as oaks, palms, and certain types of mahogany.

Pinellas County Florida Website

             The final type of vegetation that I will talk about is the mangrove forest. The mangrove is a tropical plant that lives on the coastal boundaries of the sea. In the Everglades, they serve as a border between the saltwater from the ocean and the freshwater in the marshes. The mangroves also help to prevent soil erosion and serve as a windbreaker, because of their massive root systems and their thickly dispersed foliage. Key plants such as the mangroves and the trees are vital for both the plant and animal life in the Everglades.

Resources:

          Loveless, Charles. Ecological Society of America: Ecology Journal "A Study of the Vegetation in the Florida Everglades" 1986.

Robbins, Erica. Journey to Restore America's Everglades. "More About the Plants and Animals of the Everglades" <http://www.evergladesplan.org/facts_info/sywtkma_ani mals>