Included here is the Atlantic and Gulf states of the United States from New Jersey to Florida and west to southeastern Texas.

Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain Swamp Forests

These include the cypress-gum and white cedar forests. The most typical tree in the former is Taxodium distichum Bald Cypress, although T. ascendens Pond Cypress becomes the main species in the more sandy areas. Their buttressed trunks provide the archetype image of these forests. Other trees and shrubs include the endemic Fraxinus caroliniana (Oleaceae), Itea virginica (Iteaceae), Magnolia virginiana (Magnoliaceae), Nyssa ogeche, N. sylvatica var. biflora (Cornaceae) and Persea borbonia (Lauraceae). In some of the seasonally flooded areas in the southeast hardwood species such as Quercus lyrata and the endemic Carya aquatica (Juglandaceae) and Carpinus caraliniana (Betulaceae) become more conspicuous. The white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) forests are mainly associated with deep peat in the Middle Atlantic States. In some cases this species can account for up to 95% of the canopy cover. Associated shrubs include the endemic Ilex coriacea (Aquifoliaceae).

References

Christensen, N. L. 1989. Vegetation of the southeastern coastal plain. In: North American Terrestrial Vegetation. Eds. M. G. Barbour and W. D. Billings.  Cambridge University Press.

Cooper, A. W. 1979. The natural vegetation of North Carolina. In: Contributions to the knowledge of flora and vegetation in the Carolinas. Eds. H. Leith and E. Landolt. VGI Zurich.

Estill, J. C. & Cruzan, M. B. 2001. Phytogeography of rare plant species endemic to the southeastern United States. Castanea, 66: 3-23.

Greller, A. M. 1989. Deciduous Forest.  In: North American Terrestrial Vegetation. Eds. M. G. Barbour & W. D. Billings. Cambridge University Press.

Qian, H. 1999. Floristic analysis of vascular plant genera of North America north of Mexico: characterization and phytogeography.  Journal of Biogeography, 26: 1307-1321.

Ricketts, T. h. et al. 1999. Terrestrial Ecosystems of North America - a conservation assessment. World Wildlife Fund, USA and Canada. Island Press, Washington.

Wright, A. H. & Wright, A. A. 1932. The habitats and composition of the vegetation of the Okefinokee Swamp, Georgia. Ecological Monographs, 2: 109-232.