Surrounding wetland is approximately 100 acres in size in "basin" below cleared/grazed mountaintops. Cattle graze vegetation severely but soils are not too compacted to be restored. Half of wetland will be fenced off permanently, the other half will be livestock free on a seasonal basis only. Greenbrier limestone outcrops on slopes above wetland contributing to circumneutral nature of the west end of site. Sandstone underlies east end. Various rare species associated - especially with circumneutral side of wetland. Slight alder thicket in middle of site and Rhamnus alnifolia clonal patches on east end. Wetland primarily dominated by graminoids - large Carex zones and Glyceria zones. Landowner reports that this site was a fir-spruce wet forest at turn of century when logged - none now!;Smallish Polytrichum hummocky inclusion within a sedge/Sphagnum community - forming somewhat of a matrix. Some Sphagnum in this association, but not looking so good - almost too dry for it. Polytrichum commune dominates the hummocks with much Rubus hispidus and Vaccinium angustifolium cf. British soldiers (i.e. Cladium? lichen) on hummocks as well. Low wet depression with Juncus canadensis cf. and Sphagnum sp. and Drosera rotundifolia. This might better be considered a dwarf shrubland instead of herbaceous vegetation?
Both sandstone and limestone influences on site - this would be the more acidic end.
Representativeness
Smallish Polytrichum hummocky inclusion within a sedge/Sphagnum community. Large examples of this "bog edge" community exist elsewhere.
