Name:
Alnus incana - Salix spp. - Betula pumila / Chamaedaphne calyculata Shrubland
Reference:
Midwestern Ecology Working Group...
Description:
This bog birch - willow shore fen is found in the northern regions of the midwestern and possibly northeastern United States and in central Canada. Stands occur most commonly along the minerotrophic margins of confined basin peatlands, associated with peatland lakeshore complexes or on 'lagg' zones at edges of peatlands where periodic exposure to flooding occurs from groundwater runoff. The substrate is deep fibric to mesic peat. The water regime is saturated to seasonally flooded. Hummock-and-hollow microtopography is well-developed. The shrub layer of this type is dominated by Betula pumila var. glandulifera (= Betula glandulifera), with Alnus incana and Salix spp. as codominants (including Salix pyrifolia, Salix planifolia, Salix pedicellaris, and Salix petiolaris). Other less constant tall shrubs include Cornus sericea (= Cornus stolonifera) and Rhamnus alnifolia. Shrubs are typically 1.5-3 m tall and coverage ranges from 30-80%. Chamaedaphne calyculata dominates the dwarf-shrub layer, with lesser amounts of Ledum groenlandicum, Andromeda polifolia var. glaucophylla (= Andromeda glaucophylla), Kalmia polifolia, Rubus arcticus ssp. acaulis (= Rubus acaulis), Rubus idaeus, and Rubus pubescens. Cover of these dwarf-shrubs is typically 60-90%. Often being shaded out by this dense dwarf-shrub layer, the cover of herbaceous plants is variable (20-60%). The most abundant species are Carex lacustris, Carex leptalea, Carex rostrata, Carex trisperma, Maianthemum trifolium, and Comarum palustre (= Potentilla palustris). Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex chordorrhiza, Carex lasiocarpa, Eriophorum vaginatum var. spissum (= Eriophorum spissum), and Viola spp. are also common at low density. The nonvascular stratum in northern Minnesota is dominated by Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum angustifolium, Sphagnum centrale, Sphagnum girgensohnii, and Sphagnum fallax. These species typically comprise 90-100% cover.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.22760.ALNUSINCANASALI
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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