Name:
Larix laricina / Alnus incana Swamp Forest
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This rich tamarack swamp community is found in the northern Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada. Stands are found on the shores of lakes and rivers above the flooding level, as well as margins of flowage areas of peatland complexes. The substrate is primarily a well-decomposed woody peat in wet, saturated soils, but can also be a moist mineral soil. The canopy layer varies from closed (60-100% cover) to open (25-60% cover), and varies from 3-10 m in height. <i>Larix laricina</i> is the dominant tree species, with frequent associates of <i>Picea mariana</i> and <i>Thuja occidentalis</i> and minor associates of <i>Acer rubrum, Betula alleghaniensis</i>, and <i>Fraxinus nigra</i>. The shrub, herb and moss layers can be very rich to somewhat poor in diversity. The shrub layer typically contains <i>Alnus incana</i>, along with <i>Abies balsamea, Cornus sericea, Rhamnus alnifolia</i>, and <i>Picea mariana</i>. The dwarf-shrub layer is strongly ericaceous, including <i>Ledum groenlandicum</i> and <i>Gaultheria hispidula</i>. Other dwarf-shrubs include <i>Cornus canadensis, Linnaea borealis, Lonicera villosa, Ribes triste, Rosa acicularis</i>, and <i>Rubus pubescens</i>. Herbaceous species include <i>Carex disperma, Carex aquatilis, Coptis trifolia, Equisetum sylvaticum, Galium triflorum, Maianthemum canadense, Maianthemum trifolium, Mitella nuda, Trientalis borealis</i>, and <i>Viola renifolia</i>. The moss layer, which is sometimes patchy, includes <i>Dicranum polysetum, Hylocomium splendens, Pleurozium schreberi, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sphagnum capillifolium</i>, and <i>Sphagnum girgensohnii</i>. Diagnostic characteristics include the dominance of <i>Larix laricina</i>, presence of both minerotrophic shrubs (<i>Alnus incana, Cornus sericea</i>) and some ericaceous shrubs (e.g., <i>Ledum groenlandicum</i>), and the incomplete moss layer.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:31379-{87224E5A-D09B-4859-BBEB-63A4BC219C24}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
7
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