Print Report

CEGL005271 Picea mariana - (Larix laricina) / Ledum groenlandicum / Sphagnum spp. Swamp Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Black Spruce - (Tamarack) / Bog Labrador-tea / Peatmoss species Swamp Forest

Colloquial Name: Black Spruce - Tamarack / Labrador-tea Poor Swamp

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This community is found in the northern Great Lakes and Northern Appalachian/Boreal region of the United States and Canada and elsewhere in the boreal regions of central and eastern Canada. Sites are found on level, wet sites with organic soils, but not generally as components of large open peatlands. These sites are poorly drained and acidic, allowing a moderate to thick layer of peat to accumulate. Nutrient levels are very low. The overstory of this community is dominated by conifers. The tree canopy is closed to broken to closed with a moderately well-developed low-shrub layer, sparse herbaceous layer, and a carpet of mosses. The canopy is often pure Picea mariana. The only other trees that are occasionally found with it are Abies balsamea, Larix laricina, and Pinus banksiana. The shrubs are primarily ericaceous and include Chamaedaphne calyculata, Gaultheria hispidula, Kalmia polifolia, Ledum groenlandicum, and Vaccinium myrtilloides, as well as Cornus canadensis. In the Northeast, shrubs may include Kalmia angustifolia, Ilex mucronata, Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides, or Rhododendron canadense. The few herbaceous species that live in this community include Carex trisperma, Eriophorum vaginatum var. spissum, Clintonia borealis, and Maianthemum trifolium. Sphagnum spp., Dicranum polysetum, and Pleurozium schreberi are the major species constituting the abundant moss layer.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This type represents poor black spruce swamps in closed peatland basins. Conceptually, it overlaps with black spruce bog forests, ~Picea mariana / Ledum groenlandicum / Carex trisperma / Sphagnum spp. Open Bog Woodland (CEGL002485)$$, which are more typically found in open peatland complexes. This type is found in smaller basins, where a weakly minerotrophic influence is more likely. In the Northern Appalachian/Boreal ecoregion, Abies balsamea differentiates this type from bogs of lower elevations and latitudes. Stands in northeast U.S. and Canada may also contain a suite of shrub species, such as Kalmia angustifolia, Ilex mucronata, Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides, or Rhododendron canadense. These species differ from those in the midwestern U.S. and central Canada, but their constancy in this type needs further evaluation.

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

Floristics: The overstory of this community is dominated by conifers. The tree canopy is closed to broken with a moderately well-developed low-shrub layer, sparse herbaceous layer, and a carpet of mosses (Kurmis et al. 1986). The canopy is often pure Picea mariana. Abies balsamea can be present as a codominant. The only other trees that are occasionally found with it are Larix laricina and Pinus banksiana (Sims et al. 1989). The shrubs are primarily ericaceous and include Chamaedaphne calyculata, Gaultheria hispidula, Kalmia polifolia, Ledum groenlandicum, and Vaccinium spp., as well as Cornus canadensis. In the Northeast, shrubs may include Kalmia angustifolia, Ilex mucronata (= Nemopanthus mucronatus), Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides, or Rhododendron canadense. The few herbaceous species that live in this community include Carex lasiocarpa, Carex trisperma, Eriophorum vaginatum var. spissum, Clintonia borealis, Coptis trifolia, and Maianthemum trifolium. Dicranum polysetum, Sphagnum spp., and Pleurozium schreberi are the major species constituting the abundant moss layer (Damman and French 1987, Sims et al. 1989, Harris et al. 1996). Localized minerotrophic areas may contain a more diverse herbaceous layer, including species such as Osmunda cinnamomea.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This community is found on level, wet sites with organic soils (Zoladeski et al. 1995). These sites are poorly to very poorly drained and acidic, allowing a moderate to thick layer of peat to accumulate. Nutrient levels are very low (Kurmis et al. 1986).
Geographic Range: This community is found in the northern Great Lakes region and Northern Appalachian-Acadian region of the United States and Canada and elsewhere in the boreal regions of central Canada. It ranges from northern Michigan to northern Minnesota, and northward to parts of Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and the Atlantic Provinces.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  MB, ME, MI, MN, NB, NH, NY, ON, QC?, VT, WI


Confidence Level: High

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 1 Forest & Woodland Class C01 1
Subclass 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass S15 1.B
Formation 1.B.5 Boreal Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation F036 1.B.5
Division 1.B.5.Na North American Boreal Flooded & Swamp Forest Division D016 1.B.5.Na
Macrogroup 1.B.5.Na.1 North American Boreal Conifer Poor Swamp Macrogroup M299 1.B.5.Na.1
Group 1.B.5.Na.1.c Black Spruce Ontario-Québec Boreal Poor Swamp Group G806 1.B.5.Na.1.c
Alliance A0197 Black Spruce - Tamarack / Peatmoss species Poor Swamp Forest Alliance A0197 1.B.5.Na.1.c
Association CEGL005271 Black Spruce - (Tamarack) / Bog Labrador-tea / Peatmoss species Swamp Forest CEGL005271 1.B.5.Na.1.c
Concept Lineage: result of lump of CEGL006229 with CEGL002454 by DFL to form new type. CEGL002521 was merged into CEGL002454 which was subsequently merged into CEGL005271. CEGL002453 split between Picea mariana / Pleurozium schreberi Forest (CEGL002447) (upland) and Picea mariana / Ledum groenlandicum / Sphagnum spp. Forest (CEGL002454) which was subsequently merged into CEGL005271.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Carex trisperma - Black spruce forest (Damman and French 1987)
= Habenario - Picetum Association (Janssen 1967)
= Picea mariana - (Larix laricina) / Ledum groenlandicum / Sphagnum spp. Forest (Faber-Langendoen 2001) [Northern Wet Forest Black Spruce Poor Swamp Subtype]
< Black Spruce (eastern type): 12 (Eyre 1980)
= Black Spruce - Kalmia Type (Kurmis et al. 1986)
= Black Spruce / Herb Poor / Sphagnum (Feathermoss) (Zoladeski et al. 1995)
= Poor Conifer Swamp - Black Spruce (Tamarack) Swamp (Chapman et al. 1989)
= Spring-fen forest (Glaser 1992b)
Concept Author(s): D. Faber-Langendoen (2001)

Author of Description: D. Faber-Langendoen

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 06-27-00
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