Name:
Picea rubens - Abies balsamea / Gaultheria hispidula / Osmunda cinnamomea / Sphagnum spp. Swamp Forest
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
These red spruce - balsam fir swamps occur on wetland flats and basins across the Northern Appalachians. They are typically found in small basins, or along the margins of larger drainage basins or lowland slopes, usually in areas with some surface seepage. The substrate is saturated mineral soils, sometimes with a shallow peat layer. Shrubs and herbs of boreal affinity reflect the cool environmental conditions. The canopy ranges from partial (50%) to dense, with shrub and herb layers sparse to well-developed depending on available light. Canopy gaps are common, and shrubs may be locally dense. The canopy is dominated by <i>Picea rubens</i> and <i>Abies balsamea</i>, with smaller amounts of <i>Picea mariana, Picea glauca</i>, or <i>Larix laricina</i>. <i>Abies balsamea</i> drops out at the southern end of the range. Characteristic shrubs are <i>Ilex mucronata, Sorbus americana, Alnus viridis</i>, and <i>Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides</i>. Heath shrubs such as <i>Gaultheria hispidula, Vaccinium angustifolium</i>, and <i>Kalmia angustifolia</i> are occasional, but not abundant. The most characteristic herb layer species are <i>Osmunda cinnamomea</i> and <i>Carex trisperma</i>; common associates include <i>Dalibarda repens, Coptis trifolia</i>, and <i>Clintonia borealis</i>. In coastal settings, <i>Symplocarpus foetidus</i> may be locally abundant. The bryophytes are dominated by <i>Sphagnum</i> spp. (typically including <i>Sphagnum girgensohnii</i>), but also include <i>Bazzania trilobata, Pleurozium schreberi</i>, and <i>Aulacomnium palustre</i>. This association is distinguished by the dominance of red spruce rather than black spruce, the mineral soil setting, and the low abundance of heath shrubs. <i>~Picea mariana - Picea rubens / Pleurozium schreberi</i> Swamp Forest (CEGL006361)$$ is similar, but has black spruce abundant and occurs in more boreal settings, on poorly drained but not usually saturated soils.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:34959-{84187059-6D34-430E-BC7E-F74EDBAF2BF4}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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