The wetlands 
The East Cabrits is flanked to the east by an area whose vegetation 
is influenced by a seasonal supply of fresh water. The area may be 
classified as a wetland, and contains small patches of swamp and an 
extensive marshy area. This wetland is about 35 hectares (89 
acres) in extent, and is one of two large wetlands in the Portsmouth 
area. 
A Wetland may be described as an area where the soil is periodically 
or constantly saturated by saline or fresh water. Such saturation 
must be frequent and short enough in order to allow for the sur 
vival of a type of vegetation which is typically adapted to life m 
water—logged and acidic soil conditions. 
A swamp is described as a wetland which is dominated by woody 
plants, and ta marsh is usually dominated by herbaceous species. 
The wetlands at the peninsula is supplied with water from direct 
rainfall and from the runoff coming from the eastern side of East 
Cabrits and from the lands to the immediate east of the peninsula. 
The water is mostly fresh and there is no direct influx of saline 
water from the sea to the north or south of the wetland. 
Most of the wetland area of the peninsula comprises a marsh which 
normally dries up during the dry season. It contains large areas 
of sedges, including Cyperus sp., "Jon", clumps of the swamp fern 
"Fouje swamp" ( Achrosticum aureum ), and large grassy areas. 
Two species of "Jon" grow in the marsh: Eleocharis mutata with its 
circular cross-section, and the three-sided _E interstincta . Jon 
was once extensively used in cottage industries for the filling of 
matteresses, and the making of hats and mats. 
Woody swamp species 
Generally, swamps are not very rich in tree species composition, 
and the areas of swamp at the Cabrits peninsula are no exception. 
However, the peninsula is unique in that it is the only area in 
Dominica where three typical swamp tree species have been 
identified. 
The wetlands at the Cabrits dries up and floods annually, and 
usually more than one dry/wet cycle occurs each year. Thus any 
species thriving on such soil conditions is usually well adapted 
for that type of environment. 
Annona glabra 
The most commo 1 swamp species 
at the Cabrits, Annona glabra (Mamen, 
