Physiognomy and Structure: These are evergreen, deciduous, or mixed evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved forests. Schinus terebinthifolius and Melaleuca quinquenervia are evergreen and are common in the Florida Peninsula. Some forests may have a deciduous canopy of Triadica sebifera and an evergreen tall-shrub stratum of Ligustrum sinense, but often Triadica sebifera is dominant, but mixed with native deciduous trees, shrubs, graminoids and forbs.

Floristics: Stands are dominated by invasive exotic trees or tall shrubs, such as Triadica sebifera, Schinus terebinthifolius, and Melaleuca quinquenervia. Triadica sebifera stands may have an evergreen tall-shrub stratum of Ligustrum sinense, but often Triadica sebifera is dominant, but mixed with native deciduous trees, shrubs, graminoids and forbs. In more open stands of Melaleuca quinquenervia in southern Florida, Cladium mariscus ssp. jamaicense may be an herbaceous stratum dominant. There are a variety of other ruderal native and exotic trees which may occur in these wetlands.

Dynamics:  This vegetation is spreading, aided by bird dispersal of seeds of Triadica sebifera and Schinus terebinthifolius, and wind and water dispersal of seeds of Melaleuca quinquenervia. While fire provides some control of Triadica sebifera in the Gulf Coastal Prairies region, in southwest Florida fire promotes the dispersal of Melaleuca quinquenervia seeds. These invasive exotic trees easily reproduce and thrive in southern wetlands, and are spreading. It has been estimated that the range of Triadica sebifera will increase to 1.58 million hectares (3.8 million acres) by 2023; its spread is being increased by hurricane and feral hog damage to native forests (Wang et al. 2011), and by forest management practices (Fan et al. 2012). Melaleuca quinquenervia transpires large amounts of water, and was widely planted in southern Florida in order to dry out wetlands. Schinus terebinthifolius and Melaleuca quinquenervia are sensitive to cold, which has limited their northward spread.