Shrub swamp lies between floodplain forest and open Leersia oryzoides or Cephalanthus occidentalis/ Leersia oryzoides communities. Part of large, modified wetland at Winfield Swamp. No longer connected to natural flood regime due to dams on Kanawha River.;Dense shrub swamp, part of larger modified wetland complex and buffered by natural communities on all sides. This community has tree species starting to seed in, which may not reech tree size if the community is too wet. Abundant large downed trees (decayed) suggest that this may have been floodplain forest, perhaps prior to highway development, or other hydrologic modification. Invasives present.
Representativeness
Plot was placed to sample shrub swamp dominated by Cephalanthus occidentalis in later successional state with some tree species encroaching.