Florida's Native Plant Communities

Wet prairies usually occur on acidic, nutrient-poor, saturated soils. Flooding, if it occurs, is typically brief. A calcareous variant is found in parts of central Florida. Most wet prairies are associated with flat topography, often forming in shallow depressional areas. These wetlands are maintained by frequent fire; without it, they may be overtaken by shrubs.

The edges of wet prairies are generally dominated by wiregrass ( Aristida stricta ). Other common species include foxtail clubmoss ( Lycopodiella alopecuroides ), cutover muhly ( Muhlenbergia capillaris ), and savannah meadowbeauty ( Rhexia alifanus ). In wetter portions, wiregrass may persist or give way to sedges such as plumed beaksedge ( Rhynchospora plumosa ), featherbristle beaksedge ( Rhynchospora oligantha ), Baldwin’s nutrush ( Scleria baldwinii ), slenderfruit nutrush ( Scleria georgiana ), or grasses such as longleaf threeawn ( Aristida palustris ). Wet prairies are especially known for their carnivorous plants, including pitcher plants ( Sarracenia spp. ), sundews ( Drosera spp. ), butterworts ( Pinguicula spp. ), and bladderworts ( Utricularia spp. ) (FNAI, 2010).

Wet prairies are noted for high species diversity, particularly in the Panhandle, where many rare species occur.

Example Locations

• Kissimmee Prairie State Park
• Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary (in a broad band around the main swamp)

Variants

• Pitcherplant Prairies (Panhandle): Found in Apalachicola National Forest, Tate’s Hell State Forest, and Garcon Point.
• Cutthroat Seeps (Lake Wales Ridge): Found at the Archbold Biological Station and nearby areas. These occur in shallow depressions or on slopes. They are highly fire-dependent, as cutthroat grass (Panicum abscissum) requires fire for successful germination.
• Calcareous Wet Prairies (South Florida): Found in Big Cypress National Preserve and Everglades National Park.