SPECIAL PUBLICATION NO. 27


 Yellow-eyed grass, Xeris ambigua
 Whitetop sedge, Dichromena colorata
 "A wetlands classification scheme was developed by the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers (USACOE) primarily to help delineate the boundaries
of wetlands subject to federal jurisdiction. Specifically a series of eight
preliminary guides to major regions of wetland communities and domi-
nant plant associations was produced to aid USACOE regulatory person-
nel to recognize the critical boundaries of wetlands subject to dredge and
fill permit regulation under Section 404 of Public Law 92-500 (Federal
Water Pollution Control Act Amendment of 1972).
 "One particular guidebook, Preliminary Guide to Wetlands of Peninsu-
lar Florida, serves as a classification key for wetlands south of St. Augus-
tine. In addition to the key, each of eight wetland types (Saltwater
Aquatic, Saltwater Coastal Flat, Saltwater Marsh, Saltwater Swamp,
Freshwater Aquatic, Freshwater Flat, Freshwater Marsh and Freshwater
Swamp) are dealt with in detail. A brief description of each of the four
freshwater wetlands follows:
 a. Freshwater aquatic
 "Wetlands that are usually dominated by free-floating or rooted
 aquatic herbs and are semi-permanently or permanently flooded by
 freshwater (e.g., floating duckweed mats).
 b. Freshwater flat
 "Wetlands that have 25% or less vegetative cover and are occa-
 sionally or regularly flooded by fresh water (e.g., mudflats).
 c. Freshwater marsh
 "Wetlands that have more than 25% vegetative cover of herba-
 ceous plants but 40% or less cover by woody plants that are
 occasionally or regularly flooded by fresh water (e.g., cattail
 marsh).
 d. Freshwater swamp
 "Wetlands that have more than 40% cover by woody plants and
 are occasionally or regularly flooded by fresh water (e.g., cypress
 swamps).
In addition to a short general description of each wetland based on vege-
tative cover and water regime the abundance and normal locations of the
wetland within the region described. Growth forms and physiognomy are
described briefly and then shown pictorially in a simplified floristic profile
that contrasts the distribution of "typical" species (those which gener-
ally occur as dominants) and the distributions of "Transitional" species
(those generally associated with transition zones). "Associated" species
(those which commonly occur but not in sufficient abundance to be
considered dominants) are also listed (both scientific and common
names) as well as described in their relationships with dominant species.
Environmental conditions, usually the characteristics of the substrate,
hydro-period, water regime, and water pH, are described in order to
highlight the cluster of conditions that are critical to the distribution of
dominant species.


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