Name:
Larix laricina / Aronia melanocarpa / Sphagnum spp. Swamp Forest
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This community is found in the upper midwestern United States and adjacent Canada, with an outlier in the central Appalachian Mountains. Stands contain shallow peats in sites along rivers and in shallow lake basins, and may form a zone in a larger peatland site. The tree canopy is variable, with stands containing 25-100% cover. <i>Larix laricina</i> is either the sole dominant, or often mixed with <i>Acer rubrum, Betula alleghaniensis, Pinus strobus, Fraxinus nigra</i>, and occasional <i>Picea mariana</i> in the west and <i>Nyssa sylvatica</i> in the east. The shrub layer may contain <i>Betula pumila</i> and <i>Chamaedaphne calyculata</i>, as well as other more minerotrophic species, such as <i>Alnus incana, Aronia melanocarpa, Ilex verticillata, Toxicodendron vernix, Vaccinium corymbosum</i> (in the eastern part of its range), and <i>Rhododendron maximum</i> (in the Central Appalachians). The dwarf-shrub <i>Vaccinium macrocarpon</i> may also be present. The herbaceous layer contains a diverse mix of species, including <i>Carex lasiocarpa, Caltha palustris, Coptis trifolia, Drosera rotundifolia, Impatiens capensis, Osmunda cinnamomea, Sarracenia purpurea</i>, and, in the Central Appalachians, <i>Symplocarpus foetidus</i>. A nearly complete <i>Sphagnum</i> spp. mat covers the ground. Diagnostic features may include dominance by <i>Larix laricina</i> and the presence of <i>Toxicodendron vernix</i>.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:31380-{A513271F-E4F1-4684-B61C-859A3DF8EB1E}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
5
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