Forested Wetlands

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Swamp Forest

In the New York City area, hardwood swamps occur in poorly drained depressions on inorganic soils. Although the most common plant community is the Red–Maple Swamp with Acer rubrum as the dominant species, hardwood swamps in this area may also be a varied species mix of co–dominants: Acer rubrum, Liquidambar styraciflua, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Quercus palustris, and Nyssa sylvatica.

Trees

• Acer rubrum – Red maple
• Betula nigra – River birch
• Fraxinus pensylvanica – Green ash
• Liquidambar styraciflua – Sweet gum
• Magnolia viginiana – Sweet bay
• Nyssa slyvatica – Black gum
• Platanus occidentalis – American Sycamore
• Quercus bicolor – Swamp white oak
• Quercus palustris – Pin oak
• Quercus alba – White oak

Shrubs

• Amelanchier canadensis – Canadian serviceberry
• Aronia arbutifolia – Red chokeberry
• Aronia melanocarpa – Black chokeberry
• Aronia prunifolia – Chokeberry
• Clethra alnifolia – Sweet pepperbush
• Ilex verticillata – Winterberry
• Leucothoe racemosa – Fetterbush
• Lindera benzoin – Spicebush
• Lyonia lingustrina – Male berry
• Rhododendron viscosum – Swamp azalea
• Ribes americanum – Eastern black currant
• Vaccinium corymbosum – High bush blueberry
• Vibernum dentatum – Southern arrowwood

Herbs

• Arisaema triphyllum – Jack–in–the–pulpit
• Boehmeria cylindrical – False nettle
• Chelone glabra – White turtleheads
• Eupatorium dubium – Coastal plain joe–pye–weed
• Eupatorium perfoliatum – Common boneset
• Geum canadensis – White avens
• Lysimachia ciliata – Fringed loosestrife
• Mimulus ringens – Allegheny monkey flower
• Rubus hispidus – Swamp dewberry
• Saururus cernuus – Lizard's tail
• Symplocarpus foetidus – Skunk–cabbage

Ferns

• Dryopteris cristata – Crested shield fern
• Dryopteris spinulosa – Wood fern
• Onoclea sensibilis – Sensitive fern
• Osmunda cinnamomea – Cinnamon fern
• Osmunda regalis – Royal fern
• Woodwardia areolata – Netted chain fern

Graminoids

• Carex crinita – Fringed sedge
• Carex debilis – Tuffted sedge
• Carex folliculata – Northern long sedge
• Carex intumescens – Greater blade sedge
• Carex stricta – Tussock sedge
• Carex typhina – Cattail sedge
• Carex vulpinoidea – Fox sedge
• Cinna arundinacea – Wood reed
• Elymus riparius – Wild rye
• Elymus virginicus – Virginia wild rye
• Glyceria obtuse – Atlantic manna grass
• Glyceria striata – Fowl manna grass
• Juncus effusus – Smooth rush
• Leersia virginica – White grass
• Scirpus atrovirens – Bulrush

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Floodplain

This is a hardwood forest occurring on mineral soils in low–lying areas near river floodplains. These areas are flooded regularly in the spring and intermittently on more upland areas. Dominant canopy trees include Acer negundo, Acer rubrum, Acer saccharinum, Liquidambar styraciflua, Populus deltoides, and Quercus palustris.

Trees

• Acer negundo – Box elder
• Acer rubrum – Red maple
• Acer saccharium – Silver maple
• Betula nigra – River birch
• Fraxinus pennsylvanica – Green ash
• Liquidambar styraciflua – Sweet gum
• Platanus occidentalis – American sycamore
• Populus deltoides – Eastern cottonwood
• Quercus palustris – Pine oak
• Salix nigra – Black willow

Shrubs/Vines

• Cornus amomum – Silky dogwood
• Cornus racemosa – Gray dogwood
• Ilex verticillata – Winterberry
• Lindera benzoin – Spicebush
• Vibernum dentatum – Southern arrowwood
• Parthenocissus quinquefolia – Virginia creeper

Herbs

• Ariseama triphyllum – Jack–in–the–pulpit
• Boehmeria cylindrica – False nettle
• Claytonia virginica – Spring beauty
• Erythronium americanum – Trout lily
• Geum canadense – White avens
• Hydrophyllum virginianum – Eastern waterleaf
• Lycopus americanus – American water–horehound
• Osmorhiza longistylis – Long–styled sweet cicely
• Polygonum virginianum – Mountain mint
• Symphyotrichum novae–angliae – New York aster
• Symplocarpus foetidus – Skunk cabbage

Ferns

• Onoclea sensibilis – Sensitive fern
• Osmunda cinnamomea – Cinnamon fern

Graminoids

• Carex intumescens – Greater blade sedge
• Cinna arundinacea – Wood reed
• Elymus riparius – Wild rye
• Glyceria striata – Fowl manna grass
• Scirpus atrovirens – Bulrush

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Alkaline Swamps

The following species are suitable for forested alkaline swamps. The higher pH is due to dissolved minerals. A good indicator of an alkaline swamp would have Liquidambar styraciflua as a dominant tree species.

Trees

• Acer saccharinum – Silver maple
• Celtis occidentalis – Hackberry
• Fraxinus pennsylvanica – Green ash
• Liquidambar styraciflua – Sweet gum
• Platanus occidentalis – American sycamore
• Populus deltoides – Cottonwood
• Salix nigra – Black willow

Shrubs

• Cornus amomum – Silky dogwood
• Sambucus canadensis – Black elderberry
• Vibernum dentatum – Southern arrowwood
• Ribes americanum – Easternt black currant

Herbs

• Pontedaria cordata – Pickerel–weed
• Senecio aureus – Golden ragwort
• Symphyotrichum lanceolatus – White panicle aster

Ferns

• Onoclea sensibilis – Sensitive fern

Graminoids

• Carex squarrosa – Squarrose sedge
• Juncus effusus – Smooth rush

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