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Ledum glandulosum / Carex obnupta / Sphagnum spp. Fen | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Ledum glandulosum / Carex obnupta / Sphagnum spp. Fen
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: Distinguished from similar associations farther north by the dominance of <i>Ledum glandulosum</i> instead of <i>Ledum groenlandicum</i>, this vegetation occurs only between the Columbia River and northern California. This early-seral association occurs in open mire complexes in poorly drained basins, valleys, and on floating lake mats. Circular or elliptical hummocks 1-3 feet taller than the surrounding mire surface form islands of ombrotrophic vegetation in otherwise minerotrophic mire fed by springs, runoff, or lakewater. Mature trees are absent, but reproducing <i>Thuja plicata</i> and <i>Pinus contorta var. contorta</i> occur in about half the plots and are slow-growing and stunted, most dying before maturity. The shrub layer is dominated by <i>Ledum glandulosum</i> with up to 60% cover. <i>Kalmia microphylla</i> or <i>Vaccinium uliginosum</i> are occasional. Two distinct variants occur with either <i>Sphagnum palustre</i> or <i>Sphagnum fuscum</i> dominant in the moss layer. The herb layer in the <i>Sphagnum palustre</i> variant typically contains 15-25 species and is characterized by <i>Vaccinium oxycoccos, Drosera rotundifolia, Lysichiton americanus, Eriophorum chamissonis, Trientalis europaea ssp. arctica, Carex echinata ssp. phyllomanica</i>, and <i>Carex leptalea</i>. The herb layer in the <i>Sphagnum fuscum</i> variant is conspicuously dwarfed and species-poor (10 or fewer) because of high acidity and low nutrient status. Hollows between hummocks in both variants are generally wet, species-poor, and consist almost entirely of lawns of <i>Sphagnum angustifolium, Sphagnum pacificum</i>, or bare muddy bottoms if trailed by elk and deer. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:32316-{96E4C840-1259-42B6-A40F-1362506FE49D}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 21-Oct-2002 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686837 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL003434
  Translated: Western Labrador-tea / Slough Sedge / Peatmoss species Fen
  Scientific: Ledum glandulosum / Carex obnupta / Sphagnum spp. Fen
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(similar) CEGL003434
(similar) Ledum glandulosum / Carex obnupta / Sphagnum spp. Shrubland
(similar) Ledum glandulosum / Carex obnupta / Sphagnum spp. Shrubland