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CEGL005278 Chamaedaphne calyculata - Ledum groenlandicum - Kalmia polifolia Bog

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Leatherleaf - Bog Labrador-tea - Bog Laurel Bog

Colloquial Name: Leatherleaf Bog

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This dwarf-shrub bog community is found in the northern Great Lakes region and across much of central Canada. Sites are found on raised bog landforms in large peatland complexes, basin bogs, and occasionally on shores (but still isolated from groundwater influence). Stands have a saturated hydrology with a fibric Sphagnum spp. peat soil and a pH usually <4.3. Vegetation is dominated by an open dwarf-shrub/scrub conifer layer with very scattered trees (<10% cover). Microtopography is high hummocks with weakly developed hollows. Ericaceous dwarf-shrubs are dominant, including Chamaedaphne calyculata, Kalmia polifolia, and Ledum groenlandicum, and the creeping dwarf-shrubs Andromeda polifolia and Vaccinium oxycoccos. Scrub conifers include Larix laricina and Picea mariana. They also occur as scattered trees (>3m). The herb layer is species poor, containing Carex oligosperma, Carex pauciflora, Eriophorum vaginatum, and Sarracenia purpurea. The moss layer forms a continuous hummocky mat dominated by Sphagnum angustifolium, Sphagnum fuscum, and Sphagnum magellanicum. Diagnostic features include the dominance of a dwarf-shrub ericaceous layer, absence of a tree layer (<10%), species-poor herbaceous layer, and almost complete lack of minerotrophic indicators, such as Betula pumila, Carex aquatilis, and Carex stricta. A possible subtype may occur in which pools form near the bogs crests, and contain maritime species such as Scheuchzeria palustris, Rhynchospora alba, Sphagnum cuspidatum, and Utricularia cornuta.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This type represents the "hard-core" shrub bog, with little or no minerotrophic influence, and typically in larger raised bog peatlands. Stands with sparse black spruce - tamarack layer (<10% tree cover) are part of this type. Stands with 10-25% black spruce and tamarack cover are placed in black spruce / leatherleaf semi-treed bog, ~Picea mariana / Chamaedaphne calyculata / Sphagnum spp. Open Bog Woodland (CEGL005218)$$. Minerotrophic indicators, especially Betula pumila, Carex stricta or Carex aquatilis, can be present at very low cover when rooted in minerotrophic peat beneath the bog (Harris et al. 1996), but stands with sufficient minerotrophic indicators are placed in the wetter type, ~Chamaedaphne calyculata / Carex oligosperma / Sphagnum spp. Poor Fen (CEGL005277)$$, a much more widespread type in the midwestern and northeastern United States peatlands.

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

Floristics: The vegetation is dominated by an open dwarf-shrub/scrub conifer layer with very scattered trees (<10% cover). Microtopography is high hummocks with weakly developed hollows. Ericaceous dwarf-shrubs are dominant, including Chamaedaphne calyculata, Kalmia polifolia, and Ledum groenlandicum, and the creeping dwarf-shrubs Andromeda polifolia and Vaccinium oxycoccos. Scrub conifers include Larix laricina and Picea mariana. They also occur as scattered trees (>3 m). The herb layer is species-poor, containing Carex oligosperma, Carex pauciflora, Eriophorum vaginatum, and Sarracenia purpurea. The moss layer forms a continuous hummocky mat dominated by Sphagnum angustifolium, Sphagnum fuscum, and Sphagnum magellanicum (MNNHP 1993, Harris et al. 1996). Diagnostic features of this type include the dominance of a dwarf-shrub ericaceous layer, absence of a tree layer (<10%), species-poor herbaceous layer, and almost complete lack of minerotrophic indicators, such as Betula pumila, Carex aquatilis, and Carex stricta. A possible subtype may occur in which pools form near the bogs crests, and contain maritime species such as Scheuchzeria palustris, Rhynchospora alba, Sphagnum cuspidatum, and Utricularia cornuta.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  Sites are found on raised bog landforms in large peatland complexes, basin bogs, and occasionally on shores (but still isolated from groundwater influence). Stands have a saturated hydrology with a fibric Sphagnum spp. peat soil and a pH usually <4.3 (MNNHP 1993, Harris et al. 1996).
Geographic Range: This dwarf-shrub bog community is found in the northern Great Lakes region and across much of central Canada, ranging from the eastern lake states to northern Minnesota, and northward from Quebec to Manitoba and other parts of Canada.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  MB, MI, ON, QC?, WI


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5

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.1 Leatherleaf - Small Cranberry - Few-seed Sedge Bog & Acidic Fen Macrogroup M876 2.C.2.Na.1
Group 2.C.2.Na.1.a Leatherleaf - Few-seed Sedge - Bog Laurel Boreal Bog & Acidic Fen Group G748 2.C.2.Na.1.a
Alliance A4399 Leatherleaf / Few-seed Sedge Bog Alliance A4399 2.C.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL005278 Leatherleaf - Bog Labrador-tea - Bog Laurel Bog CEGL005278 2.C.2.Na.1.a
Concept Lineage: This type (CEGL002498) is separated into leatherleaf bog (CEGL005278) and leatherleaf poor fen (CEGL005277) types.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Chamaedaphne calyculata - Ledum groenlandicum - Kalmia polifolia Bog Dwarf-shrubland (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
< Nonforested bog (Glaser 1992b)
Concept Author(s): D. Faber-Langendoen (2001)

Author of Description: D. Faber-Langendoen

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 03-31-00
  • CDPNQ [Centre de données sur le patrimoine naturel du Québec]. No date. Unpublished data. Centre de données sur le patrimoine naturel du Québec, Québec.
  • Faber-Langendoen, D., editor. 2001. Plant communities of the Midwest: Classification in an ecological context. Association for Biodiversity Information, Arlington, VA. 61 pp. plus appendix (705 pp.).
  • Glaser, P. H. 1992b. Vegetation and water chemistry. Pages 15-26 in: H. E. Wright, Jr., B. A. Coffin, and N. E. Aaseng, editors. The patterned peatlands of Minnesota. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, MN.
  • Greenall, J. A. 1996. Manitoba''s terrestrial plant communities. MS Report 96-02. Manitoba Conservation Data Centre, Winnipeg.
  • Harris, A. G., S. C. McMurray, P. W. C. Uhlig, J. K. Jeglum, R. F. Foster, and G. D. Racey. 1996. Field guide to the wetland ecosystem classification for northwestern Ontario. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Northwest Science and Technology, Thunder Bay, Ontario. Field guide FG-01. 74 pp. plus appendix.
  • Hop, K., D. Faber-Langendoen, M. Lew-Smith, N. Aaseng, and S. Lubinski. [1999]. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota. USDI U.S. Geological Survey, La Crosse, WI. 210 pp.
  • Lee, H., W. Bakowsky, J. Riley, J. Bowles, M. Puddister, P. Uhlig, and S. McMurray. 1998. Ecological land classification for southern Ontario: First approximation and its application. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Southcentral Science Section, Science Development and Transfer Branch. SCSS Field Guide FG-02.
  • Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
  • ONHIC [Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre]. 2018. Unpublished data. Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario, Canada.
  • WDNR [Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources]. 2015. The ecological landscapes of Wisconsin: An assessment of ecological resources and a guide to planning sustainable management. PUB-SS-1131 2015. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison. [http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/landscapes/Book.html]