Print Report

CEGL005228 Chamaedaphne calyculata - Myrica gale / Carex lasiocarpa Fen

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Leatherleaf - Sweetgale / Woolly-fruit Sedge Fen

Colloquial Name: Leatherleaf - Sweetgale Shore Fen

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This leatherleaf - sweetgale dwarf-shrubland is typically found on floating mats on the edges of lakes and streams in the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada. Stands occur where there is low wave and current energy with seasonal flooding. Hummocks with Sphagnum spp. and ericaceous shrubs are often present but small in area. Shallow surface pools of water may persist throughout the growing season. Low shrubs dominate the stands, generally with over 60%. Dominant species include Chamaedaphne calyculata and Myrica gale. Salix pedicellaris is often present. The herbaceous layer is variable in cover and composition, sometimes shaded out by the heavy shrub cover. Species include Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex aquatilis, Carex lasiocarpa, Carex rostrata, and Comarum palustre. Diagnostic features of the type are high cover of Chamaedaphne calyculata with one or more of the following minerotrophic species present: Myrica gale, Betula pumila, Salix spp., Carex lacustris, Carex lasiocarpa, Typha latifolia, Calamagrostis canadensis, and Iris versicolor.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Diagnostic features of the type are high cover of Chamaedaphne calyculata with one or more of the following minerotrophic species present: Myrica gale, Betula pumila var. glandulifera, Salix spp., Carex lacustris, Carex lasiocarpa, Typha latifolia, Calamagrostis canadensis, and Iris versicolor. Depending on the site, nutrient conditions may vary; however, rich shore fens along the Great Lakes are treated as a separate type, ~Dasiphora fruticosa - Myrica gale Shore Fen (CEGL005275)$$. This type differs from the Leatherleaf Bog, ~Chamaedaphne calyculata - Ledum groenlandicum - Kalmia polifolia Bog (CEGL005278)$$, and the Leatherleaf Poor Fen, ~Chamaedaphne calyculata / Carex oligosperma / Sphagnum spp. Poor Fen (CEGL005277)$$ in that it harbors more minerotrophic indicator species which the Leatherleaf types lack, and tends to have less acidic indicators, such as Carex oligosperma. When cover of Betula pumila var. glandulifera and Salix spp. increases, this community can grade into Bog Birch - Willow Shore Fen, ~Betula pumila - Alnus incana - Salix spp. / Chamaedaphne calyculata Fen (CEGL005227)$$, or Dogwood - Willow Swamp, ~Cornus sericea - Salix spp. - (Rosa palustris) Shrub Swamp (CEGL002186)$$. Greater than 25% cover of short (not dwarf) shrubs would warrant placing the stand into one of these other communities. This type is drier than graminoid shore fen, ~Carex lasiocarpa - (Carex rostrata) - Equisetum fluviatile Fen (CEGL005229)$$, and is transitional to saturated rich and poor fens. Shore fens may also resemble organic shrub swamps in Ontario and the concept of shore fen has not been standardized across the province yet (W. Bakowsky pers. comm. 1999).

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: Hummocks with Sphagnum spp. and ericaceous shrubs are often present, but small in area. Shallow surface pools of water may persist throughout the growing season. Low shrubs dominate the stands, generally over 60%. Dominant species include Chamaedaphne calyculata and Myrica gale. Salix pedicellaris is often present. The herbaceous layer is variable in cover and composition, sometimes shaded out by the heavy shrub cover. Species include Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex aquatilis, Carex lasiocarpa, Carex rostrata, and Comarum palustre (= Potentilla palustris). Diagnostic features of the type are high cover of Chamaedaphne calyculata with one or more of the following minerotrophic species present: Myrica gale, Betula pumila, Salix spp., Carex lacustris, Carex lasiocarpa, Typha latifolia, Calamagrostis canadensis, and Iris versicolor (Harris et al. 1996).

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This community is typically found on floating mats on the edges of lakes and streams. Stands occur where there is low wave and current energy, and where seasonal flooding may be expected (Harris et al. 1996). Seasonal flooding apparently tends to produce somewhat intermediate nutrient conditions, but depending on degree of flooding and water chemistry, individual stands may vary from moderately poor to moderately rich.
Geographic Range: This community is typically found on floating mats on the edges of lakes and streams in the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada. It ranges from northern Minnesota and adjacent Ontario eastward to localized areas of Michigan and New York. In New York, one site (Deer Creek) is known along the shores of eastern Lake Ontario.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  MI, MN, NY, ON, QC?, WI


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4G5

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class C02 2
Subclass 2.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass S44 2.C
Formation 2.C.2 Temperate to Polar Bog & Fen Formation F016 2.C.2
Division 2.C.2.Na North American Bog & Fen Division D029 2.C.2.Na
Macrogroup 2.C.2.Na.2 Shrubby cinquefoil - Woolly-fruit Sedge / Star Campylium Moss Alkaline Fen Macrogroup M877 2.C.2.Na.2
Group 2.C.2.Na.2.e Shrubby-cinquefoil - Woolly-fruit Sedge Eastern Boreal Alkaline Fen Group G804 2.C.2.Na.2.e
Alliance A4400 Smooth Sawgrass - Needle Beaksedge - <i>Solidago ohioensis</i> Shore Fen Alliance A4400 2.C.2.Na.2.e
Association CEGL005228 Leatherleaf - Sweetgale / Woolly-fruit Sedge Fen CEGL005228 2.C.2.Na.2.e
Concept Lineage: CEGL005141 merged with CEGL005228 (DFL 7-13).

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Chamaedaphne calyculata - Myrica gale / Carex lasiocarpa Dwarf-shrubland (Faber-Langendoen 2001) [Shore Fen Leatherleaf-Sweetgale Low Shrub Subtype]
Concept Author(s): D. Faber-Langendoen (2001)

Author of Description: D. Faber-Langendoen

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 08-06-98
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