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Picea mariana - Picea rubens / Rhododendron canadense / Cladonia spp. Swamp Woodland | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Picea mariana - Picea rubens / Rhododendron canadense / Cladonia spp. Swamp Woodland
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: These undulating barrens are found on cold lowland flats of glacially-derived materials at near-boreal latitudes in northern New England and may extend into adjacent Canada. The soils are highly acidic and nutrient-poor. The sandy to clay soils over till can vary with the microtopography from well-drained to very poorly drained, often within the same site. The wetter pockets may have a shallow peat layer (ca. 25 cm or less) over the mineral soil. The canopy is usually open (25-60% closure), occasionally with areas of more closed canopy. The shrub-sapling layer is usually at least 25% and may be locally dense. Dwarf-shrubs, herbs, and tree regeneration cover the ground layer. The bryoid layer is usually well-developed and often essentially continuous. Dominant trees are <i>Picea mariana, Picea rubens</i>, and often hybrids of the two. Less common, but frequent, are <i>Acer rubrum, Abies balsamea, Pinus strobus</i>, and <i>Populus grandidentata</i>. Shrub cover is usually dominated by small spruce and fir, sometimes with <i>Betula populifolia, Pinus strobus</i>, and <i>Sorbus decora</i> or <i>Sorbus americana</i>. <i>Ilex mucronata</i> is a typical shrub. Ericaceous dwarf-shrubs are almost always present, with <i>Rhododendron canadense, Kalmia angustifolia</i>, and <i>Vaccinium angustifolium</i> (and possibly <i>Vaccinium myrtilloides</i>) the most abundant. Herbs are rarely abundant; frequent species include <i>Pteridium aquilinum, Cornus canadensis, Maianthemum canadense, Coptis trifolia</i>, and <i>Aralia nudicaulis</i>. Local moisture appears to influence the distribution of bryoids, with <i>Dicranum</i> and <i>Polytrichum</i> mosses in the more moist portions and <i>Cladonia</i> spp. lichens in the drier areas. These barrens appear to be fire-maintained. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:35064-{5BECA5AB-86D4-437E-A0FD-43ECCF7C2626}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 21-Mar-2003 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686890 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL006421
  Translated: Black Spruce - Red Spruce / Rhodora / Cup Lichen species Swamp Woodland
  Common: Northern Spruce / Heath Barrens
  Scientific: Picea mariana - Picea rubens / Rhododendron canadense / Cladonia spp. Swamp Woodland
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(similar) Picea mariana - Picea rubens / Rhododendron canadense / Cladina spp. Woodland
(similar) Picea mariana - Picea rubens / Rhododendron canadense / Cladina spp. Woodland