• Baldcypress is distinguished by its "knees."cypress swamp image by William Knapp from Fotolia.com
  
  Plants that live near water are specially adapted to the continually wet growing conditions and humidity near the water. Plants on stream and river banks are highly functional in that they help to improve the quality of water and are a source of shelter and food for fish and birds. Plants that grow naturally near lakes and riverbanks also perform the important function of holding banks together and preventing erosion. There is a great variety of plants that thrive near water, including trees, grasses and flowers.
  
  

Baldcypress

• Baldcypress (Taxodium distichum var. distichum) is a hardy, deciduous tree that thrives along streams, creeks and rivers. The tree is also found in swamps that have slow-moving water. Baldcypress is a slow-growing tree and is sometimes referred to as swamp cypress or tree with knees. Baldcypress is among the very important trees in the ecosystem of swamps. The seeds of the tree are food for the Canada geese that migrate south. Swamp rabbits feed on the tree, and it provides shelter to white-tailed deer. Baldcypress has feather-like, linear foliage with pendulous branches. The roots of the tree develop characteristic "knees" or cone-shaped extensions from the ground. The tree can grow to a mature height of 100 to 150 feet. The pyramid shaped crown gets flat topped with age. The tree has 3/4- to 1-inch diameter, green cones that become woody with age.
  
  

Swamp Azalea

• Swamp azalea (Rhododendron viscosum), also known as the cory azalea or clammy azalea, is a deciduous shrub that's found on stream banks, swamps and bogs. The shrub grows to about 5 feet and has long, dark green foliage that clusters near the end of the branches. The foliage color changes to orange and maroon in fall. The shrub blooms with five narrow-petaled, scented, white or pink flowers from May to August and are known to attract birds. Swamp azaleas have a high water requirement and grow best in wet soil. They're among the last of the azalea varieties to bloom in spring.
  
  

Hop Sedge

• Hop sedge (Carex lupulina) is a perennial grass that thrives in wet prairies and woods. Hop sedge belongs to the sedge family and grows up to 4 feet tall with the straight, smooth stems. Female plants are distinguished by 2 1/2 inch long cylindrical spikes. Hope sedge grows from short rhizomes and blooms with light green, pineapple shaped flowers from May to September. Hop sedge is used as a filler in wetland landscapes and in areas where the soil needs to be stabilized. It pollinates very easily and multiplies rapidly to create thick growth.