| Tree Islands | The term tree island is derived from the island-like appearance of a small forest situated in an open area such as a marsh. Tree islands add considerably to the functional value of a surrounding marsh by providing habitat diversity. They provide nesting sites for alligators, protective cover for wildlife such as deer and others, and roosting and nesting locations for birds, notably wading birds. |
There are two very different types of tree islands: those composed of species that regularly grow in wetlands and those composed of "upland" species, which only grow on land above normal flooding elevations.
Wetland tree islands are named for the kinds of trees that dominate them. The most common are dominated by red bay or sweet bay and are called bay heads. Those dominated by coastal plain willow are called willow heads and those dominated by cypress are called cypress heads.
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