Comunidades de plantas nativas de Florida

Salt marshes are found in coastal areas, primarily along low-energy shorelines and within bays and estuaries. They are inundated by seawater on a daily basis, creating distinct tidal gradients that shape plant distribution.

Vegetation

Salt marsh vegetation occurs between the low and high tidal zones. In Florida, typical dominants include:

• Black needlerush ( Juncus roemerianus )
• Smooth cordgrass ( Spartina alterniflora )
• Saltmeadow cordgrass ( Spartina patens )
• Sawgrass ( Cladium jamaicense ) – in brackish transition zones toward freshwater marshes

Species distribution is controlled by the level and duration of tidal flooding:

• Smooth cordgrass dominates the lowest, wettest zones
• Saltmeadow cordgrass occurs at intermediate flooding levels
• Black needlerush dominates the highest, less frequently flooded zones
• Sawgrass appears where salt marsh transitions into freshwater marshes

(Description paraphrased from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: Salt Marshes )