Name:
Picea mariana / (Vaccinium corymbosum, Gaylussacia baccata) / Sphagnum sp. Swamp Woodland
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This black spruce bog association represents the southern range limit of the alliance, ranging from central New England to just south of the glacial border. This vegetation generally occurs in kettlehole basins and other well-defined topographic depressions and is characterized by relatively deep peat accumulation, indicating acidic, nutrient-poor conditions. The tree canopy ranges widely in closure. The dominant tree is <i>Picea mariana</i>, with associates including <i>Larix laricina</i> and <i>Abies balsamea</i>. The shrubs <i>Vaccinium corymbosum</i> and <i>Ilex mucronata</i> form a patchy tall-shrub layer. The dwarf-shrub layer is well-developed and characterized by a number of heaths including <i>Chamaedaphne calyculata, Gaylussacia baccata, Kalmia angustifolia</i>, and <i>Vaccinium angustifolium</i>. Common herbs may include <i>Carex trisperma, Rhynchospora alba, Drosera rotundifolia, Sarracenia purpurea, Eriophorum virginicum, Coptis trifolia</i>, and <i>Maianthemum trifolium</i>. The well-developed bryophyte layer is dominated by <i>Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Bazzania trilobata, Aulacomnium palustre</i>, and <i>Pleurozium schreberi</i>. This association is further characterized by the presence of one or more tree or shrub species of more southern distribution, including <i>Betula populifolia, Tsuga canadensis, Pinus rigida, Alnus incana, Rhododendron viscosum, Aronia</i> spp., or <i>Lyonia ligustrina</i>. Additional species that further indicate southern range affinity or the influence of slightly higher nutrient levels from adjacent uplands may be present, including <i>Carex folliculata, Carex crinita, Carex stricta, Osmunda cinnamomea, Symplocarpus foetidus, Iris versicolor</i>, or <i>Calla palustris</i>. Northern species, such as <i>Rhododendron canadense</i> or <i>Eriophorum vaginatum var. spissum</i>, are generally lacking.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:34747-{D8D5185E-4FCB-4103-9984-6B41991BFF74}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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