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CEGL006394 Sphagnum (cuspidatum, torreyanum) - Vaccinium macrocarpon Fen

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: (Toothed Peatmoss, Giant Peatmoss) - Cranberry Fen

Colloquial Name: Peatland Moss Lawn / Mud Bottom

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This association is bryophyte-dominated vegetation with a sparse vascular component found in wet bog hollows in northern New England and adjacent Canada. Variously called "moss lawn" or "moss carpet," it occurs in acidic fens and bogs. It may form a floating mat over open water, as in kettleholes, or it may develop around secondary pools on raised bog surfaces. The substrate pH is acidic, usually about 4.0. Bryophyte carpets dominate the vegetation, with vascular plants scattered across their surface and generally totaling under 25% cover. The only woody plants are sparse and extremely stunted (usually <10 cm tall) heath shrubs. The dominant bryophytes vary among sites, but are typically some combination of Sphagnum cuspidatum and Sphagnum torreyanum. Characteristic vascular species include stunted Andromeda polifolia var. glaucophylla and Chamaedaphne calyculata, plus Drosera rotundifolia, Drosera intermedia, Eriophorum virginicum, Rhynchospora alba, and Vaccinium macrocarpon. This association is floristically similar to certain other fen associations (e.g., ~Chamaedaphne calyculata / Eriophorum virginicum / Sphagnum rubellum Acidic Peatland (CEGL006513)$$ but is differentiated from other Sphagnum-based peatland vegetation types by the very low abundance of vascular plants.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: As described, this association encompasses a variety of bryophyte carpet assemblages. Rangewide analyses of plots with bryophytes as well as vascular plants identified to species might determine more homogeneous associations.

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

Floristics: Sphagnum carpets dominate the vegetation, with vascular plants scattered across their surface and generally totaling under 25% cover. The only woody plants are sparse and extremely stunted (usually <10 cm tall) heath shrubs. The dominant bryophytes vary among sites, but are typically some combination of Sphagnum cuspidatum and Sphagnum torreyanum. Characteristic vascular species include Andromeda polifolia var. glaucophylla (= Andromeda glaucophylla) and Chamaedaphne calyculata, plus Drosera rotundifolia, Drosera intermedia, Eriophorum virginicum, Rhynchospora alba, and Vaccinium macrocarpon.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This association is bryophyte-dominated vegetation of very wet bog hollows in northern New England and adjacent Canada. Variously called "moss lawn" or "moss carpet," it occurs in acidic fens and bogs. It may form a floating mat over open water, as in kettleholes, or it may develop around secondary pools on raised bog surfaces. The substrate pH is acidic, usually about 4.0.
Geographic Range: This type is found in northern New England and adjacent Canada, from New Brunswick southwest to upstate New York.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT


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.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 A3451 <i>Sphagnum rubellum - Rhynchospora alba</i> Moss Fen Alliance A3451 2.C.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL006394 (Toothed Peatmoss, Giant Peatmoss) - Cranberry Fen CEGL006394 2.C.2.Na.1.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Rhynchospora alba / Sphagnum cuspidatum community (Metzler and Barrett 2006)
= Rhynchospora alba mud-bottom community (Damman and French 1987)
? Moss lawn and Moss lawn - mud bottom / sedge (Types 2 and 10) (Anderson and Davis 1997)
= Type 2: Moss lawn-mudbottom / sedge (Sphagnum cuspidatum - Cladopodiella fluitans / Rhynchospora alba) (Engstrom 1998)
= Type 2: Moss lawn-mudbottom/sedge (Sphagnum cuspidatum-Cladopodiella fluitans/Rhynchospora alba) (Anderson and Davis 1998)
Concept Author(s): S.C. Gawler

Author of Description: S.C. Gawler and S.L. Neid

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 03-01-04
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