Grades from pure 3-way sedge and open water to a more diverse community on the drier shore. Short shrubs (Rhododendron maximum, and Ilex verticillata) separate this community from the upland forest of red spruce / black cherry which surrounds the community three sides.;This 3-way sedge community grades from open water (20 cm deep over muck) of an active beaver pond to the drier shoreline. Glyceria canadensis and Carex canescens are in the open water with the 3-way sedge, but the rest of the flora are on drier land or Sphagnum hummocks rising above the water on decaying wood. The pond contains woody "beaver burn" snags and small amounts of algae. The beavers have probably kept this impoundment maintained for quite a few years based on air photos / older maps. No obvious human disturbance.
Representativeness
Small patch along an active beaver pond shore. Early successional open water / shoreline community. I have not seen others quite like it yet so I'm not sure of its representativeness.
