Ecology of Red Maple Swamps in the Glaciated Northeast: A ...

this taxonomic group by zone is not possible. Table
3*3 lists mosses, as well as liverworts and
lichens, that are known to occur in northeastern
red maple swamps.
The floristic cornpositiorl of the great majority
of red maple swanips in zone I can be broadly
described through various combinations of the
plant species listed above. As already indicated,
the community composition of a particular swamp
is often strongly related t~ its hydrogeologic setting.
Three basic types of red maple swamps,
differentiated by landscape position and flora, are
outlined below. These types were first recognized
in Connecticut by Metzler and Tiner (1992), but
they are clearly applicable throughout southern
New England and much of the remainder of zone
I. Floristic descriptions are based heavily on
Metzler and Tiner.
Hillside Seeps and Upland Drainageways
These swamps occur most commonly on slopes
or in shallow depressions along intermitt,ent or
upper perennial streams where till predominates
(see Figs. 2.4 and 2.9). They are fed primarily by
groundwater seepage and overland flow. Shallow
flooding may occur along watercourses during the
early spring and after heavy rains, but surface
water seldom persists. Most of these sites have a
seasonally saturated water regime (Table 2.3).
Mineral soils predominak, and surface microrelief
is limited except where the ground is strewn
with glacial erratics. Dominant trees include red
maple, yellow birch, American elm, swamp white
oak, and pin oak; black gum and white ash (Fntxinus
americana) also are common. A moderately
dense understory dominated by spicebush, but
with few other important species, is a characteristic
feature of this type of swamp (Fig. 3.11).
Skunk cabbage, false hellebore, and marsh marigold
are dominant herbs. Other common species
include cinnamon fern, sensitive fern, spinulose
woodfern, swamp jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaerna
triphyllum), shining clubmoss (Lycopodiurn luciclulum),
marsh blue violet (Viola cucullata), and
northern white violet (V. pallens).
Seasonally l%oded bin Swamps
This type of swamp occurs primarily in undrained
basins in either tiU or stratified drift. Typically,
surface water is present throughout the dormant
season and for the early part of the growing
season in most years. Because of the extended p-
rid of soil saturation, organic soils are common and
nlicromlief is pronounced. Trees and shrubs are
mted prhlarily in mounds, which are elevated
slightly above t.he seasonal high-water level
(Fig. 2.6). Red maple, yellow birch, hemlock, black
gt1113, and white pine a.re the principal tree species
in thew swamps. The shrub layer, which is oh1
exceedingly dense, is dominated by species such
as highbush blueberry, swamp azalea, common
vvinterbc?ly, sweet pepperbush, northern arrowwood,
and witherod. Cinnamon fern, sensitive
fern, mars11 fern, skunk cabbage, manna grass,
ruld sedges ( Ca~x spp.) are among the most comnion
herbs. Rllosses, includmg peat moss (Sphgrturn
spp.), bmn mosses (Dicrurzurn spp.), delicate-
Fig, 3.11. Red maple swamp along an upland
drainageway in southern New England. Spicebush