Print Report
CEGL006512 Myrica gale - Spiraea alba - Chamaedaphne calyculata Fen
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sweetgale - White Meadowsweet - Leatherleaf Fen
Colloquial Name: Sweetgale Mixed Shrub Fen
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: 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 Myrica gale, Spiraea alba, Spiraea tomentosa, and Chamaedaphne calyculata, in association with others, such as Rhododendron canadense, Kalmia angustifolia, Alnus incana, Rosa palustris, and saplings of Acer rubrum, Larix laricina, or, less commonly, Picea mariana. The herbaceous layer is relatively diverse, and may include 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, and Lysimachia terrestris. The bryophyte layer is characterized by Sphagnum fimbriatum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum subsecundum, Sphagnum teres, and others. The dense shrub cover of about 1 meter high, with Myrica gale and Spiraea spp. as important components, is diagnostic.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: 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 Myrica gale, Spiraea alba, Spiraea tomentosa, and Chamaedaphne calyculata, in association with others, such as Rhododendron canadense, Kalmia angustifolia, Alnus incana, Rosa palustris, and saplings of Acer rubrum, Larix laricina, or, less commonly, Picea mariana. The herbaceous layer is relatively diverse, and may include 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 (= Potentilla palustris), and Lysimachia terrestris. The bryophyte layer is characterized by Sphagnum fimbriatum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum subsecundum, Sphagnum teres, and others.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental 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.
Geographic Range: This weakly to moderately minerotrophic mixed shrub swamp occurs in New England.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, QC?, RI, VT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684576
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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 | A4401 <i>Chamaedaphne calyculata - Myrica gale</i> / Woolly-fruit Sedge Fen Alliance | A4401 | 2.C.2.Na.2.e |
| Association | CEGL006512 Sweetgale - White Meadowsweet - Leatherleaf Fen | CEGL006512 | 2.C.2.Na.2.e |
Concept Lineage: merged
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Sweetgale - White meadowsweet - Leatherleaf (Myrica gale - Spiraea alba - Chamaedaphne calyculata) community (Metzler and Barrett 2006)
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