Bottomland hardwoods are one of the lowest and wettest types of hardwood forests. They are generally found along the edges of lakes and rivers, and in sinkholes. Bottomland forests represent a transition between drier upland hardwood forest and very wet river floodplain and wetland forests. While trees and plants in this ecosystem cannot tolerate long periods of flooding (as in a swamp), they are flooded periodically when water levels rise.

While bottomland hammocks may be found scattered throughout Florida, some good examples of these ecosystems may be seen in Ichetucknee River State Park, O'Leno State Park, Apalachiocola National Forest, San Falasco Hammock, Suwannee River State Park, Dead Lakes State Recreation Area, Wakulla Springs State Park, St. Marys National Wildlife Refuge, Faver-Dykes State Park, Silver River State Park, and the Myakka River State Park.

• For the Contest

  Each year the contest takes on two ecosystems on a four-year rotation. At this station, when bottomland hardwood forests is one of the featured ecosystems:

  • Juniors and Intermediates will answer 10 multiple choice/true false questions about each ecosystem.
    • To prepare, Juniors should review/watch the ecosystems presentation; Intermediates should read the ecosystem description*. 

  Intermediates will be asked multiple choice/true false questions that reference identifying characteristics of the four representative plant species for bottomland hardwoods:

  1. Swamp chestnut oak
  2. Sweetbay
  3. Water hickory 
  4. Winged elm

  *Note: the bottomland hardwoods presentation and description are being revised. Updated versions will be posted for the 2026 contest.