In South Florida, sawgrass marshes dominate. Typical marsh plants are sawgrass, pickerel weed, cattails, and bulrush, although the coastal plain willow is encroaching on the area. Periodic fires help restore regular marsh vegetation. Scarlet Hibiscus, Swallow-tailed Kite Scroll for more photos or jump to the Cypress Forest Polystachya Orchid Pig Frog River Otter . Cypress Forest Standing like sentinels guarding a fortress, cypress trees dominate the swamps of South Florida.
Swamps develop over time under the right conditions.
The majestic, old growth bald cypress trees at Corkscrew are approaching 600 years in age and reach heights of 130 feet. They are the largest remaining tract of ancient bald cypress forest in North America. The Lettuce Lakes along the boardwalk trail are in the cypress forest. However, when water levels are too deep, no trees can grow. These deep, treeless channels within a swamp are called sloughs.