Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: Stands of this type are dominated by Spartina bakeri, or at least with substantial cover of it. Muhlenbergia filipes may be codominant; Andropogon glomeratus and Aristida sp. are occasionally present. A variety of wetland herbs are present in the wetter swales, including Rhynchospora colorata, Sagittaria lancifolia, Eupatorium mikanioides (a Florida endemic), Setaria magna, Cladium mariscus ssp. jamaicense, Phyla nodiflora, Sabatia stellaris, and Pluchea rosea. Nostoc, a cyanobacterium, forms a wet, slippery, dark green ground cover during wet periods and a thick, black crust during dry spells. An alga, Chara sp., is also present in pools in wet swales. Exotic species found in some swales include Schinus terebinthifolius and Catharanthus roseus. A stand assigned here in the Ocala National Forest (Farles Prairie) is strongly dominated by Spartina bakeri, with Ludwigia suffruticosa, Amphicarpum muehlenbergianum, Dichanthelium sp., Smilax pumila, Centella erecta, Rhexia mariana, Pluchea rosea, Andropogon brachystachyus, Andropogon capillipes, and Ludwigia repens. The shrubs Vaccinium darrowii and Hypericum myrtifolium are present here at low cover values. In fire-suppressed examples, there may be a very sparse tree layer (5-10 m tall) of Pinus elliottii, Pinus taeda, and Salix caroliniana. There may also be a sparse shrub layer (1-2 m) of these same species, as well as Diospyros virginiana and Sabal palmetto.

Dynamics:  These areas are not tidally flooded but are apparently maintained as marsh by occasional flooding by brackish water during severe storm tides (in hurricane events). These storm flooding events maintain brackish soil conditions.