Name:
Trichophorum cespitosum - Gaylussacia dumosa / Sphagnum (fuscum, rubellum, magellanicum) Acidic Peatland
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This is the sedge-dominated, ombrotrophic, coastal bog community of northern New England and adjacent Canadian maritime provinces. It occurs on the central, raised, relatively drier portions of maritime peatlands. The substrate is <i>Sphagnum</i> peat, usually saturated, and is acidic, around pH 4.5. Trees and shrubs are absent to sparse; dwarf-shrub cover is variable, from sparse to (rarely) over 80%. Even where dwarf-shrubs are abundant, however, their short stature allows the sedge lawns to visually dominate the vegetation. The bryoid layer is continuous. The peatland "lawns" are characterized by abundant <i>Trichophorum cespitosum</i>. Scattered low shrubs include <i>Gaylussacia dumosa</i> and <i>Chamaedaphne calyculata</i>, as well as occasional <i>Kalmia angustifolia, Kalmia polifolia, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Andromeda polifolia var. glaucophylla, Ledum groenlandicum, Rubus chamaemorus</i>, and <i>Empetrum nigrum</i>. Other associates include <i>Eriophorum vaginatum var. spissum, Arethusa bulbosa, Calopogon tuberosus, Drosera rotundifolia</i>, and <i>Solidago uliginosa</i>. The bryophyte layer is dominated by <i>Sphagnum rubellum</i> and <i>Sphagnum fuscum</i>, as well as <i>Sphagnum magellanicum</i> and <i>Sphagnum flavicomans</i>. Fruticose lichens characterize and distinguish this association and include <i>Cladonia rangiferina, Cladonia arbuscula ssp. mitis, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia terrae-novae, Cladonia uncialis</i>, and <i>Cladonia crispata</i>. Diagnostic characters for this association are its location in maritime peatlands and the relative abundance of <i>Trichophorum cespitosum</i> with other peatland plants. <i>Empetrum nigrum</i> and <i>Rubus chamaemorus</i> are also good indicators.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:34907-{DC844418-8351-420E-8FD9-EFD4E9BC1431}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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