Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: The canopy is closed in most places, usually from 60 to 90% with a few patches of larger openings. The dominant trees are Acer rubrum, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, and Liquidambar styraciflua. The subcanopy is low in cover to absent and consists of the canopy species and occasionally Ulmus americana. The most frequent shrubs are Vaccinium corymbosum with Viburnum dentatum, Ilex verticillata, Clethra alnifolia, Rhododendron viscosum, and Rubus argutus. The tall-shrub layer is better developed than the short one; both layers are rather low in cover except for occasional individuals scattered throughout. Ilex opaca and Magnolia virginiana may be present but never dominant. The herbaceous layer is dominated by graminoids and ferns. Carex stricta is frequent along with Carex intumescens, Carex laevivaginata, Carex atlantica ssp. capillacea, Carex seorsa, Carex folliculata, Carex lupulina, Carex digitalis, Carex mitchelliana, and Eleocharis tenuis. Dominant grasses include Leersia oryzoides, Glyceria striata, Glyceria septentrionalis, and Dichanthelium spp. The most frequent ferns are Thelypteris palustris, Onoclea sensibilis, Osmunda cinnamomea, and Osmunda regalis. Symplocarpus foetidus may also be present. Forbs can include Sium suave, Boehmeria cylindrica, Galium obtusum, Cicuta maculata, Lycopus spp., and Symphyotrichum novi-belgii. Sphagnum forms a thick mat in places. Vines, including Smilax rotundifolia, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, and Toxicodendron radicans, are common. Trees usually grow on large broad hummocks that typically support more upland species, such as Chasmanthium laxum, Arisaema triphyllum, Maianthemum canadense, Mitchella repens, and Carex debilis. Snags and windthrown trees are common throughout. The 5- to 6-foot wide ditches contain open water and support Sparganium spp., Polygonum spp., and Hydrocotyle verticillata.

Dynamics:  These swamps may contain numerous linear mosquito ditches dug in the 1930s that drain freshwater from the stand. They occur at the groundwater interface with high salt marshes but are not tidal; the voluminous Kirkwood-Cohansey groundwater discharge is artesian in nature.