St. Jones River - Delaware

Flora (Plant Life)

Much of the area adjacent to the river is vegetated by intertidal persistent emergent wetlands. In the Lower St. Jones River watershed, over 90 percent of the tidal wetlands are considered to be classified as Zone 1 (dominated by saltmarsh cordgrass) (Daiber et al, 1976.) Patches of Zone II (dominated by saltmeadow cordgrass and saltgrass) combine to form a salt hay community scattered throughout the component's higher elevations.

Big cordgrass and common reed are found along creekside levees and in the backmarsh near the upland edge. Wetland areas upstream of Route 113 at Scotton Landing are vegetated primarily by mixed stands of Spartina alternifora and Spartina cynosuroides, two types of cordgrass. Wetland shrub species (groundselbush and marsh elder, also occur in tidal wetland areas of higher elevation. A limited amount of palustrine forested wetlands occur at the head of the numerous tidal creek tributaries to the St. Jones River.

St. Jones River

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