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Ledum glandulosum / Darlingtonia californica / Sphagnum spp. Fen | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Ledum glandulosum / Darlingtonia californica / Sphagnum spp. Fen Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019 Description: This early-seral association occurs in open mire complexes on floating lake mats and on sandy soils with perched water tables. It is restricted to the central and southern coast of Oregon. 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. Vegetation is similar to ~<i>Ledum glandulosum / Carex obnupta / Sphagnum</i> spp. Fen (CEGL003434)$$, but <i>Darlingtonia californica</i> dominates the herb layer with up to 20% cover, and <i>Carex obnupta</i> is absent. Mature trees are scarce, and reproducing <i>Pinus contorta var. contorta, Tsuga heterophylla, Thuja plicata</i>, and <i>Picea sitchensis</i> are scarce or absent. These trees are slow-growing and stunted, and most die before maturity. The shrub layer is dominated by <i>Ledum glandulosum</i> with 10-60% cover. <i>Vaccinium oxycoccos</i> and <i>Vaccinium uliginosum</i> may be codominant, with up to 40 and 70% cover, respectively. Lesser amounts of <i>Spiraea douglasii</i> and <i>Lonicera involucrata</i> are also present. 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 is moderately diverse (up to 16 species), including more hydrophytic species such as <i>Comarum palustre, Carex aquatilis var. dives</i>, and <i>Carex cusickii</i>. The herb layer in the <i>Sphagnum fuscum</i> variant is depauperate and includes only 8 species, has fewer hydrophytic species, and the vegetation is conspicuously dwarfed. These conditions are caused by high acidity and low nutrient status engendered by <i>Sphagnum fuscum</i>. This variant does not form until the underlying peat mat is dense, firm, and sufficiently raised above the groundwater. 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:32317-{45443C3D-A60E-4A3B-B205-9459EC6A2DBC} Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 21-Oct-2002 to: ongoing
	status: accepted Community's Parent: Ledum glandulosum - Ledum groenlandicum Shrub Bog & Acidic Fen Alliance This Community's Level: Association This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689213 NatureServe Explorer   Code: CEGL003435   Translated: Western Labrador-tea / California Pitcherplant / Peatmoss species Fen   Scientific: Ledum glandulosum / Darlingtonia californica / Sphagnum spp. Fen (convergence) and Synonyms: (similar) CEGL003435 (similar) Ledum glandulosum / Darlingtonia californica / Sphagnum spp. Shrubland (similar) Ledum glandulosum / Darlingtonia californica / Sphagnum spp. Shrubland