Name:
Picea rubens - Acer rubrum / Ilex mucronata Swamp Forest
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This red spruce - red maple swamp occurs in the glaciated Northeast. It occurs most commonly in basins or low flats with poor drainage, characterized by soils that are poorly drained organic muck or shallow peat over clay loam. The substrate is characterized by pronounced hummock-and-hollow microtopography with abundant slowly decomposing leaf/needle litter. The tree canopy is closed to partly open, and the tall-shrub layer is often well-developed. Dwarf-shrubs are sparse, but herbs typically form high cover. The ground layer features extensive <i>Sphagnum</i> and other bryophytes. The canopy is codominated by <i>Picea rubens</i> and <i>Acer rubrum</i>, in association with other trees such as <i>Betula alleghaniensis, Betula populifolia, Thuja occidentalis, Abies balsamea</i>, and, occasionally, <i>Tsuga canadensis</i>. The most abundant shrubs are <i>Vaccinium corymbosum, Ilex mucronata, Ilex verticillata, Spiraea alba</i>, and <i>Alnus incana</i>. The herbaceous layer is generally dominated by the ferns <i>Osmunda cinnamomea, Osmunda regalis, Onoclea sensibilis</i>, and <i>Thelypteris palustris</i>. Associated herbs include <i>Carex trisperma, Cornus canadensis, Doellingeria umbellata, Trientalis borealis, Oclemena acuminata, Carex intumescens</i>, and others. The bryophyte layer is dominated by <i>Sphagnum</i> spp. including <i>Sphagnum girgensohnii</i> and <i>Sphagnum magellanicum</i>. This association is differentiated from <i>~Picea rubens - Abies balsamea / Gaultheria hispidula / Osmunda cinnamomea / Sphagnum</i> spp. Swamp Forest (CEGL006312)$$ of the Northern Appalachian and adjacent ecoregions by its mixed canopy, lack of <i>Abies balsamea</i> and presence of <i>Vaccinium corymbosum</i> and <i>Ilex verticillata</i>. This association is differentiated from <i>~Picea rubens - Acer rubrum / Ilex verticillata</i> Swamp Forest (CEGL006556)$$ of the Central Appalachians by the presence of <i>Thuja occidentalis</i> and <i>Cornus canadensis</i>. Although <i>Nyssa sylvatica</i> may be present in some occurrences of the southern range limit, this species is not characteristic of this type. This association is differentiated from those of ~<i>Thuja occidentalis - Acer rubrum - Larix laricina</i> Swamp Forest Alliance (A3720)$$ by its restriction to acidic wetlands and the lower importance of <i>Thuja occidentalis</i>. It can be compositionally similar to ~<i>Acer rubrum / Ilex mucronata - Vaccinium corymbosum</i> Swamp Forest (CEGL006220)$$, except in the reduced amount of red maple and the increased amount of conifers in the present type.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:34845-{FE0F78E8-04AD-4DA3-9959-F548955FE3EB}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
2
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