A Swamp Has Trees and a Marsh Does Not
A swamp is permanently waterlogged ground. Wetland types are distinguished by their vegetation and water source.
A swamp is an area of permanently waterlogged ground. Wetland scientists distinguish four types by what grows there and where the water comes from: a *swamp* has trees, a *marsh* has grasses and reeds, a *bog* is fed only by rainfall and is acidic and peaty, and a *fen* is fed by groundwater and is less acidic. To *swamp* something means to overwhelm it, from the image of water flooding a boat.
- Waterlogged wooded ground. *A cypress swamp.*
- Marsh — grassy wetland. *A salt marsh.*
- Bog — rain-fed and acidic. *A peat bog.*
- Fen — groundwater-fed. *The Fens.*
- To overwhelm. *Swamped with work.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | swamp | A swamp. |
| Plural | swamps | Swamps. |
| Verb | swamp | Swamped. |
| Adjective | swampy | Swampy. |
| Related | marsh | A marsh. |
- Cypress trees grow in the swamp.Wetland.
- We were swamped with applications.Figurative.
- Bogs are fed only by rain.Distinction.
Four kinds of wetland
- Swamp — dominated by trees and shrubs
- Marsh — dominated by grasses, reeds and sedges
- Bog — fed only by rainfall, acidic, accumulates peat
- Fen — fed by groundwater, less acidic, richer in species
- All four are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth
Probably from a Germanic source related to Old English *swamm*, a mushroom or fungus, and to *sponge*.
What is the difference between a swamp and a marsh?
A swamp is dominated by trees and shrubs; a marsh by grasses, reeds and sedges.
What makes a bog different from a fen?
A bog is fed only by rainfall and is acidic; a fen is fed by groundwater and supports a wider range of plants.