Print Report

CEGL003435 Ledum glandulosum / Darlingtonia californica / Sphagnum spp. Fen

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Western Labrador-tea / California Pitcherplant / Peatmoss species Fen

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This early-seral association occurs in open mire complexes on floating lake mats and on sandy soils with perched water tables. It is restricted to the central and southern coast of Oregon. Circular or elliptical hummocks 1-3 feet taller than the surrounding mire surface form islands of ombrotrophic vegetation in otherwise minerotrophic mire fed by springs, runoff, or lakewater. Vegetation is similar to ~Ledum glandulosum / Carex obnupta / Sphagnum spp. Fen (CEGL003434)$$, but Darlingtonia californica dominates the herb layer with up to 20% cover, and Carex obnupta is absent. Mature trees are scarce, and reproducing Pinus contorta var. contorta, Tsuga heterophylla, Thuja plicata, and Picea sitchensis are scarce or absent. These trees are slow-growing and stunted, and most die before maturity. The shrub layer is dominated by Ledum glandulosum with 10-60% cover. Vaccinium oxycoccos and Vaccinium uliginosum may be codominant, with up to 40 and 70% cover, respectively. Lesser amounts of Spiraea douglasii and Lonicera involucrata are also present. Two distinct variants occur with either Sphagnum palustre or Sphagnum fuscum dominant in the moss layer. The herb layer in the Sphagnum palustre variant is moderately diverse (up to 16 species), including more hydrophytic species such as Comarum palustre, Carex aquatilis var. dives, and Carex cusickii. The herb layer in the Sphagnum fuscum variant is depauperate and includes only 8 species, has fewer hydrophytic species, and the vegetation is conspicuously dwarfed. These conditions are caused by high acidity and low nutrient status engendered by Sphagnum fuscum. This variant does not form until the underlying peat mat is dense, firm, and sufficiently raised above the groundwater. Hollows between hummocks in both variants are generally wet, species-poor, and consist almost entirely of lawns of Sphagnum angustifolium, Sphagnum pacificum, or bare muddy bottoms if trailed by elk and deer.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This association is treated here as one type with two variants (Sphagnum palustre or Sphagnum fuscum) instead of two separate associations as described in Christy (2001a).

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

Floristics: No Data Available

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  No Data Available
Geographic Range: This association is restricted to the central and southern coast of Oregon, where it occurs from central Tillamook to northern Curry counties. Here, Darlingtonia californica is near the northern limit of its range and is confined to the immediate coast. Darlingtonia leaves the coast in central Curry County and extends inland and southeasterly to the Sierra Nevada in California. In Oregon''s Klamath Mountains, Darlingtonia is a dominant species of fens occurring on ultramafic soils that lack any Sphagnum vegetation.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  OR


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2

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.3 Beach Pine / Bog Labrador-tea / Cusick''s Sedge North Pacific Bog & Fen Macrogroup M063 2.C.2.Na.3
Group 2.C.2.Na.3.b North Pacific Acidic Open Bog & Fen Group G284 2.C.2.Na.3.b
Alliance A2514 Western Labrador-tea - Bog Labrador-tea Shrub Bog & Acidic Fen Alliance A2514 2.C.2.Na.3.b
Association CEGL003435 Western Labrador-tea / California Pitcherplant / Peatmoss species Fen CEGL003435 2.C.2.Na.3.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Ledum glandulosum / Darlingtonia californica / Sphagnum (McCain and Christy 2005) [60 plots]
= Ledum glandulosum / Darlingtonia californica / Sphagnum Association (Christy 2004)
Concept Author(s): J.A. Christy

Author of Description: J.A. Christy

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 10-21-02
  • Christy, J. A. 2001a. Low-elevation Sphagnum wetlands in western Oregon. Report to Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10. Oregon Natural Heritage Program, Portland. 90 pp.
  • Christy, J. A. 2004. Native freshwater wetland plant associations of northwestern Oregon. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Oregon State University, Portland, OR.
  • Kagan, J. S., J. A. Christy, M. P. Murray, and J. A. Titus. 2004. Classification of native vegetation of Oregon. January 2004. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Portland. 52 pp.
  • McCain, C., and J. A. Christy. 2005. Field guide to riparian plant communities in northwestern Oregon. Technical Paper R6-NR-ECOL-TP-01-05. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland. 357 pp.
  • Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.