Name:
Dasiphora fruticosa - Carex spp. / Calliergon spp. Western Boreal Alkaline Shrub Fen Alliance
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This medium to rich alliance extends across the western boreal regions of North America from Alaska to central Canada. The vegetation may be graminoid-dominated, shrub-dominated, or a patchwork of the two. <i>Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda</i> is a common diagnostic shrub, along with <i>Betula pumila, Betula glandulosa, Betula nana, Myrica gale, Salix barclayi, Salix candida, Salix maccalliana, Vaccinium macrocarpon</i>, and <i>Larix laricina</i>. The herbaceous flora is usually species-rich and includes calciphilic graminoids and forbs. Dominant species may include <i>Calla palustris, Carex aquatilis, Carex diandra, Carex lasiocarpa, Comarum palustre, Equisetum fluviatile, Eriophorum angustifolium, Menyanthes trifoliata</i>, and <i>Trichophorum cespitosum</i>. Other common but non-dominant species include <i>Caltha palustris, Cicuta virosa, Galium trifidum, Rumex arcticus</i>, and <i>Utricularia</i> spp. Aquatic plants such as <i>Myriophyllum spicatum, Hippuris vulgaris, Potamogeton</i> spp., and <i>Sparganium</i> spp. may be present. <i>Sphagnum</i> can dominate the substrate, along with other calciphilic mosses; common indicator bryophytes include <i>Calliergon trifarium, Limprichtia revolvens, Scorpidium scorpioides, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum squarrosum, Sphagnum warnstorfii, Tomentypnum nitens</i>, and <i>Campylium stellatum</i>. These fens, distributed across glaciated western and central Canada, develop in open basins where bedrock or other substrate influence creates circumneutral to calcareous conditions. The edge of the basin may be shallow to deep peat over a sloping substrate, where seepage waters provide nutrients. They also occur along streams and lakeshores ("shore fens").
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:38735-{49FFCD61-4A30-4D07-AC3C-A3203BE22B2F}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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