An Emergent Marsh is a type of wetland found in shallow water along the shores of ponds, lakes, and rivers. Emergent Marsh is one of the most common habitat types found in Mid-Michigan (and around the entire state). This type of wetland is characterized by narrow and broad leaved herbacious plants and grasses that float on the surface or emerge above the surface of the water (including water lilies, water plantains, arrowheads, grasses, sedges and cattails). Surface water may dry out seasonally, but groundwater is never far below the surface. While trees and shrubs are sometimes found in Emergent Marshes, the saturated soil prevent most woody species from becoming established. Emergent marshes are usually named aftert their dominant plant type (e.g. a cattail marsh). Emergent marshes are among the most biologically diverse forms of habitats and can be home to thousands of species of plants and animals. Among the species of animals that we associate with emergent marshes are the
Muskrat (
Ondatra zibethicus) and the
Red-winged Blackbird (
Agelaius phoeniceus).
Selected Plants of the Emergent Marsh
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