Name:
Myrica gale - Chamaedaphne calyculata / Carex exilis Acidic Peatland
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This Coastal Plain poor fen is currently known from the northeastern United States. This weakly minerotrophic peatland overlies sand and gravel deposits. Sedges are dominant and commonly overtop the dwarf-shrub layer, which can be patchy and scattered. The dwarf-shrub layer is dominated by <i>Myrica gale</i> and <i>Chamaedaphne calyculata</i> plus <i>Vaccinium macrocarpon, Gaylussacia dumosa, Spiraea alba var. latifolia, Spiraea tomentosa</i>, and sometimes <i>Alnus incana ssp. rugosa</i> or <i>Decodon verticillatus</i>. The herbaceous layer is very well-developed and dominated by sedges, including <i>Carex exilis, Carex bullata, Carex lasiocarpa, Carex rostrata, Carex striata, Cladium mariscoides, Rhynchospora alba, Rhynchospora capitellata, Rhynchospora fusca, Eriophorum virginicum</i>, and occasionally <i>Scirpus longii</i>. Additional herbs include <i>Juncus canadensis, Juncus pelocarpus, Drosera intermedia, Drosera rotundifolia, Triadenum virginicum, Utricularia gibba, Utricularia purpurea, Pogonia ophioglossoides, Calopogon tuberosus, Sarracenia purpurea</i>, and <i>Eleocharis tuberculosa</i>. <i>Sphagnum</i> mosses are abundant including <i>Sphagnum bartlettianum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum flavicomans, Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum recurvum, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum torreyanum</i>, and <i>Sphagnum henryense</i>. Scattered, stunted trees, especially <i>Chamaecyparis thyoides</i> and <i>Acer rubrum</i>, may be present. Key diagnostic features are the presence of Coastal Plain indicators amidst acidic fen vegetation, such as <i>Carex exilis, Carex striata, Sphagnum torreyanum</i>, and <i>Gaylussacia dumosa</i>.<br /><br />In New Jersey, this vegetation occurs adjacent to a freshwater tidal marsh. Characteristic species include a short-shrub layer dominated by <i>Chamaedaphne calyculata, Chamaecyparis thyoides</i> (dwarf), <i>Morella pensylvanica</i>, and <i>Spiraea tomentosa</i>. The herbaceous layer is diverse and characterized by <i>Rhynchospora alba, Rhynchospora capitellata, Rhynchospora chalarocephala, Rhynchospora gracilenta, Juncus canadensis, Juncus pelocarpus, Eleocharis tuberculosa, Xyris difformis, Xyris torta, Andropogon glomeratus, Andropogon virginicus, Schizachyrium scoparium, Dulichium arundinaceum, Glyceria obtusa, Drosera intermedia, Drosera rotundifolia, Viola lanceolata, Viola x primulifolia, Sarracenia purpurea, Symphyotrichum novi-belgii, Iris prismatica, Euthamia caroliniana, Eupatorium pilosum, Triadenum virginicum, Linum striatum, Lobelia nuttallii, Rhexia mariana, Sagittaria calycina var. spongiosa, Utricularia gibba, Utricularia geminiscapa, Calopogon tuberosus, Pogonia ophioglossoides, Spiranthes odorata, Lycopodiella appressa, Lycopodiella alopecuroides</i>, and a nonvascular layer dominated by <i>Sphagnum magellanicum</i> and <i>Sphagnum angermanicum</i>.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:35036-{DD445DF7-C2A2-4361-AF78-95143B6CC157}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
2
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