Name:
Myrica gale - Spiraea alba - Chamaedaphne calyculata Fen
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This association is a mixed shrub fen in the Northern Appalachians region of the northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. It occurs in weakly to moderately minerotrophic settings, i.e., stream, lake or pond margins, adjacent to marshes, peatlands, or swamps, or on wet acidic colluvium at the base of slopes. The slowly moving, open water associated with this type creates somewhat minerotrophic conditions even though the pH is low (around 4.5 on average). The substrate is well-decomposed peat or muck overlying mineral soils; at most sites, standing water is present through most or all of the growing season. The shrub stratum is the dominant layer, usually with over 80% cover. The herb layer varies from sparse to well-developed. Bryophyte cover may be sparse overall, but bryophytes are locally extensive in the openings among the shrubs. Characteristic shrubs are <i>Myrica gale, Spiraea alba, Spiraea tomentosa</i>, and <i>Chamaedaphne calyculata</i>, in association with others, such as <i>Rhododendron canadense, Kalmia angustifolia, Alnus incana, Rosa palustris</i>, and saplings of <i>Acer rubrum, Larix laricina</i>, or, less commonly, <i>Picea mariana</i>. The herbaceous layer is relatively diverse, and may include <i>Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex stricta, Carex utriculata, Carex lasiocarpa, Carex canescens, Carex oligosperma, Oclemena nemoralis, Osmunda regalis, Typha latifolia, Triadenum virginicum, Triadenum fraseri, Dulichium arundinaceum, Juncus canadensis, Comarum palustre</i>, and <i>Lysimachia terrestris</i>. The bryophyte layer is characterized by <i>Sphagnum fimbriatum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum subsecundum, Sphagnum teres</i>, and others. The dense shrub cover of about 1 meter high, with <i>Myrica gale</i> and <i>Spiraea</i> spp. as important components, is diagnostic.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:35143-{A5D2B9D2-0291-41AF-BD63-79C07134D1CB}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
3
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