essf - for.gov.bc.ca
TRANSCRIPT
MHmm1 MHmm2 MHwh1
729 759 ha 567 963 ha 127 465 ha6.6% 5.1% 1.1%800 - 1200 m 1000 - 1600 m 600 - 1100 m
Western slopes of Eastern slopes of Hecate LowlandKitimat Ranges and Kitimat Ranges, Coastsouthwest Boundary Mtns.; western slopesRanges, Coast Mtns. of Hazelton Mtns.
Above CWHvm2 and Above CWHws2; Above CWHvh; scatteredsouthern CWHwm; Alice Arm, Kiteen R., on all major coastal islandsPortland Canal; lower Skeena R. and tribs. and a fringe of mainlandSkeena R.; Douglas from Exstew to Seven from mouth of PortlandChannel and lower Sisters; upper Kemano Canal to Vancouver ForestKitlope R.; Princess and Kitlope rivers RegionRoyal Is.
Maritime; cool and Submaritime; colder Hypermaritime; mild,very wet year-round and drier than foggy, wet with wet,with deep, wet snow MHmml with heavy, intermittent heavy (snowpack up to 3 m); wet snowpack (2 - 3 m); snowpack (< 0.5 m)soils never freeze soils do not freeze
Ferro-Humic and Humo-Ferric and Wet Folisols and GleyedHumo -Ferric Podzols Ferro-Humic Podzols Ferro-Humic Podzols(Folic phases) andFolisols
Thick, compactedHumimors; Hemihumimors; Humimors and10 - 69 cm thick 7 - 25 cm thick Hemihumimors
Hm, Ba, Hw, Yc Hm, Ba, Hw, Bl Hm, Yc, Hw, Cw, Ss, Pl
HmBa - Blueberry HmBa - Blueberry HmSs - Blueberry
ESSF
4 • 31
TREE
LAYER
SHRUB
LAYER
HERB LAYER
MOSS LAYER
Tsuga heterophylla Tsuga mertensiana
Chamaecyparis nootkatensis Picea sitchensis
Abies amabilis Abies lasiocarpa
Picea engelmannii Pinus contorta
Vaccinium ovalifolium Menziesia ferruginea
Vaccinium alaskaense Vaccinium parvifolium
Rhododendron albiflorurn Vaccinium rnembranaceum Cladothamnus pyroliflorus
Sorbus sitchensis Ribes lacustre
Vaccinium scoparium Rubus pedatus Listera cordata
Coptis aspleniifolia Blechnum spicant
Phyllodoce ernpetriformis Orthilia secunda Clintonia uniflora Tiarella unifoliata
Valeriana sitchensis Arnica Iatifolia
Dicranum fuscescens Rhytidiopsis robusta
Dicranum sp. Rhytidiadelphus loreus Hylocomium splendens
Scapania bolanderi Sphagnum girgensohnii
Pleurozium schreberi Pellia neesiana
western hemlock mountain hemlock yellow-cedar Sitka spruce amabilis fir subalpine fir Engelmann spruce lodgepole pine oval-leaved blueberry false azalea Alaskan blueberry red huckleberry white-flowered rhododendron black huckleberry copperbush Sitka mountain ash black gooseberry grouseberry five-leaved bramble heart-leaved twayblade fern-leaved goldthread deer fern pink mountain-heather one-sided wintergreen queen's cup one-leaved foamflower Sitka valerian mountain arnica curly heron's-bill moss pipecleaner moss heron's bill moss lanky moss step moss scapania common green sphagnum red-stemmed feathermoss
Biogeoclimatic Unit ESSFmw MHmm1 MHmm2 MHwhT
AB
LE 13. V
egetation table for zonal sites of subalpine biogeoclimatic
units (see Table 10 for explanation of prom
inence bars).
37
67
DISTINGUISHING ADJACENT UNITS FROM THE IDFww (using zonal sites)
CWHds - occurs above or adjacent; it has• much more Hw• less falsebox• less diverse and well-developed shrub layer
CWHms - occurs above; it has:• common Hw and Ba
ESSFmw - occurs above; it has:• common Bl and Se
4.19 MHmm1 - Windward Moist MaritimeMountain Hemlock Variant
DISTRIBUTION: The MHmm1 occurs at high elevations on VancouverIsland and in maritime areas of the mainland coast. The lower elevationallimit is between 800 and 1000 m and the upper limit is between 1100 and1350 m.
CLIMATE (Table 17): The MHmm1 has long, wet, cold winters and short,cool moist summers. Frozen soils are rare due to the insulating snowpack,but growing season frosts are common. Total snowfall is high, resulting insubstantial snowpacks that can persist into July.
VEGETATION (Table 13): Forests on zonal sites are dominated by Ba andHm, and, to a lesser extent, Yc. Alaskan blueberry, oval-leaved blueberry,and Rhytidiadopsis robusta are prominent in the understorey. Vegetationand stand characteristics in the MHmm1 are strongly influenced by localtopography, which affects timing and pattern of snowmelt. Upperelevations grade into discontinuous forests of the parkland subzone(MHmmp1).
DISTINGUISHING ADJACENT UNITS FROM THE MHmm1 (using zonalsites)
CWHvm2 - occurs below; it has:• over 50% of hemlock cover as Hw; forests dominated by Hw, Ba,
and, to a lesser extent, Cw and Yc• more Hylocomium splendens and Rhytidiadelphus loreus
68
• some salal on dry sites
CWHmm2 - occurs below on part of Vancouver Island; it has:• over 50% of hemlock cover as Hw; forests dominated by Hw, Ba, Fd,
and Cw• more Hylocomium splendens and Rhytidiadelphus loreus• salal common on dry sites
MHmm2 - occurs adjacent to the east in submaritime areas; it has:• some Bl, less Yc• more black huckleberry, white-flowered rhododendron, and
Pleurozium schreberi
MHwh - occurs adjacent to the west; it has:• less Ba, black huckleberry, and Rhytidiopsis robusta• more Yc, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Hylocomium splendens, Scapania
bolanderi, and Sphagnum girgensohnii• some Ss
4.20 MHmm2 - Leeward Moist Maritime MountainHemlock Variant
DISTRIBUTION: The MHmm2 occurs at high elevations in submaritimeareas of the coast. The lower elevational limit is between 900 and 1200 mand the upper limit is between 1200 and 1400 m.
CLIMATE (Table 17): The MHmm2 has a climate transitional between thecoast and interior, characterized by long, moist, cold winters and short,cool, moist summers. The climate is somewhat colder and drier than thewindward variant. Frozen soils are rare due to the insulating snowpack,but growing season frosts are common. Total snowfall is high, resulting insubstantial snowpacks that can persist into July.
VEGETATION (Table 13): Forests on zonal sites are dominated by Ba andHm, with Hw (lower elevations) and Bl occurring less commonly.Alaskan blueberry, black huckleberry, oval-leaved blueberry, five-leavedbramble, Rhytidiopsis robusta, and Pleurozium schreberi are common inthe understorey. White-flowered rhododendron may also be present.Vegetation and stand characteristics are strongly influenced by localtopography, which affects timing and pattern of snowmelt. Upper
75
5.2 Site Classification Grids and VegetationSummary Tables
TABLE 21. Index of site classification grids
Gridno.
Site category Biogeoclimatic unit
1 General CDFmm 2 General CWHdm 3 General CWHds1 4 General CWHds2 5 General CWHmm1 6 General CWHmm2 7 General CWHms1 8 General CWHms2 9 General CWHvh110 General CWHvh211 General CWHvm112 General CWHvm213 General CWHwh114 General CWHwh215 General CWHws216 General CWHxm17 General ESSFmw18 General IDFww19 General MHmm120 General MHmm221 General MHwh22 Special - Floodplains CDFmm23 Special - Floodplains CWHdm,CWHds1,CWHxm24 Special - Floodplains CWHds225 Special - Floodplains CWHmm126 Special - Floodplains CWHms1,CWHms227 Special - Floodplains CWHwh128 Special - Floodplains CWHvh1,CWHvh229 Special - Floodplains CWHvm130 Special - Floodplains CWHws231 Special - Fluctuat water table CDFmm32 Special - Fluctuat. water table CWHdm, CWHxm33 Special - Shoreline/ocean spray CWHwh,CWHvh
135
6.1.6 Recommended tree species grids
TABLE 24. Index of recommended tree species grids
Gridno.
Site category Biogeoclimatic unit
1 General CDFmm 2 General CWHdm 3 General CWHds1 4 General CWHds2 5 General CWHmm1 6 General CWHmm2 7 General CWHms1 8 General CWHms2 9 General CWHvh110 General CWHvh211 General CWHvm112 General CWHvm213 General CWHwh114 General CWHwh215 General CWHws216 General CWHxm17 General ESSFmw18 General IDFww19 General MHmm120 General MHmm221 General MHwh22 Special - Floodplains CDFmm23 Special - Floodplains CWHdm,CWHds1,CWHxm24 Special - Floodplains CWHds225 Special - Floodplains CWHmm126 Special - Floodplains CWHms1,CWHms227 Special - Floodplains CWHwh128 Special - Floodplains CWHvh1,CWHvh229 Special - Floodplains CWHvm130 Special - Floodplains CWHws231 Special - Fluctuat water table CDFmm32 Special - Fluctuat. water table CWHdm, CWHxm33 Special - Shoreline/ocean spray CWHwh,CWHvh
172
Comments: Grid No. 19 MHmm1
GENERAL COMMENTS:
• Se is recommended as an alternative species on the leeward slopes of theVancouver Island Ranges
• Bp is recommended as a minor species on nutrient-medium to rich sites forthe lower elevational and southern portion of the variant (south of 500 Nlatitude) on the Pacific Ranges and the leeward slopes of the VancouverIsland Ranges
SPECIFIC COMMENTS:
01 Se is a suitable minor species; Bp is a suitable minor species on nutrient-medium sites
02 marginal sites for timber production; Se is an alternative to Hm
03 Se and Bp are suitable minor species
04 n/a
05 n/a
06 elevated microsites are preferred
07 elevated microsites are preferred
08 marginal sites for timber production; elevated microsites are preferred
09 marginal sites for timber production; elevated microsites are preferred
Soil nutrient regime
Very Poor Poor Medium Rich Rich
A B C D E
SD 0
SD 1
F 2
F 3
F 4
M 5
VM 6
W 7
See comments on facing page
Site series
01 HmBa - Blueberry 06 HmYc - Deer-cabbage
02 HmBa - Mountain-heather 07 YcHm - Hellebore
03 BaHm - Oak fern 08 HmYc - Sphagnum
04 HmBa - Bramble 09 YcHm - Skunk cabbage
05 BaHm - Twistedstalk
Very
Grid No. 19: MHmm1 Grid No. 20: MHmm2
SD 0
SD 1
F 2
F 3
F 4
M 5
VM 6
W 7
Soil Nutrient Regime
Very Poor Poor Medium Rich Rich
Very
A B C D E
SD 0
SD 1
F 2
F 3
F 4
M 5
VM 6
W 7
Soil Nutrient Regime
Very Poor Poor Medium Rich Rich
Very
A B C D E
282
APPENDIX 8. Correlation of old and newbiogeoclimatic and site units.
TABLE A-1. Biogeoclimatic units
Newsymbol
New name Oldsymbol a
CDFmm Moist Maritime CDF CDFaCWHdm Dry Maritime CWH CWHa2CWHds1 Southern Dry Submaritime CWH CWHc1CWHds2 Central Dry Submaritime CWH CWHc2, h1, h2CWHmm1 Submontane Moist Maritime CWH CWHb3CWHmm2 Montane Moist Maritime CWH CWHb4CWHms1 Southern Moist Submaritime CWH CWHb5CWHms2 Central Moist Submaritime CWH CWHb6, h3CWHvh1 Southern Very Wet Hypermaritime
CWHCWHd1
CWHvh2 Central Very Wet HypermaritimeCWH
CWHd2,CCPH
CWHvm1 Submontane Very Wet MaritimeCWH
CWHb1, i1
CWHvm2 Montane Very Wet Maritime CWH CWHb2, i2CWHwh1 Submontane Wet Hypermaritime
CWHCWHe1, g1
CWHwh2 Montane Wet Hypermaritime CWH CWHe2, g2CWHws2 Montane Wet Submaritime CWH CWHb7, f2, i3CWHxm1b Eastern Very Dry Maritime CWH CDFbCWHxm2b Western Very Dry Maritime CWH CWHa1ESSFmw Moist Warm ESSF ESSFfIDFww Wet Warm IDF IDFeMHmm1 Windward Moist Maritime MH MHa, dMHmm2 Leeward Moist Maritime MH MHb, eMHwh Wet Hypermaritime MH MHc, f
a From Yole et al. (1982), Banner, et al. 1983, Green, et al. (1984), Pojar et al.(1988).b Combined into CWHxm in this guide because of floristic and managementsimilarities.
APPENDIX 8. ( Continued )
TABLE A-2. Site units
2 CWHdm 8 CWHa2
3 CWHds1 18 CWHc1
4 CWHds2 17 CWHc2
5 CWHmm1 11 CWHb3
6 CWHmm2 12 CWHb4
7 CWHms13
13 CWHb5
8 CWHms2 3 14 CWHb6
9,10 CWHvh, 18 CWHd
11 CWHvm1 9 CWHb1
12 CWHvm2 10 CWHb2
13,14 CWHwh *
15 CWHWS2 3 15 CWHb7i
16 CWHxm4 '7 CWHa1
17 ESSFmw5
3 ESSFf
18 IDFww6
4,5 lDFe
19 MHmm1 1 MHa
20 MHmm2 2 MHb
21 MHwh *
* No equivalent in Green et al. (1984) 1 New site series includes portions of old site units 1 and 3
New site series includes portions of old site units 2 and 4 3 No new equivalent for old site unit 3
CWHxm most closely represents the old CWHa1 5 No new equivalent for old site units 3,5, and 8 6 No new equivalent for old site units 2,5,7, and 8 7 New site series includes old site units 1 and 2
New grid # Old grid # and and
BGC unit BGC unit
1 CDFmm 6 CDF
283
4
Ch
ap
ter 5.2F
ens
79
.. Distribution of Fen Site Associations by biogeoclimatic zone
BG BWBS SBPSPP SWB ESSF ICH IDF MS SBS CDF CWH MH
Wf01 Water sedge – Beaked sedge xx x xx xxx xxx xxx xi
Wf02 Scrub birch – Water sedge xxx x xx xx xx xxWf03 Water sedge – Peat-moss xx xWf04 Barclay’s willow – Water sedge – Glow mosss x xxx x xWf05 Slender sedge – Common hook-moss x xx xx xx xxWf06 Slender sedge – Buckbean x x x xWf07 Scrub birch – Buckbean – Shore sedge x x x xWf08 Shore sedge – Buckbean – Hook-moss x x x x xWf09 Few-flowered spike-rush – Hook-moss x x xWf10 Hudson Bay clubrush – Red hook-moss xWf11 Tufted clubrush – Star moss x x x x xWf12 Narrow-leaved cotton-grass – Marsh-marigold xxxWf13 Narrow-leaved cotton-grass – Shore sedge xx xWf50 Narrow-leaved cotton-grass – Peat-moss x xxxWf51 Sitka sedge – Peat-moss x xx xxWf52 Sweet gale – Sitka sedge xx xxs
Wf53 Slender sedge – White beak-rush x xxs
x = incidental; < 5% of wetlands xx = minor; 5–25% of wetlands xxx = major; >25% of wetlands
i = inland areas only s = southern subzones only
80 Wetlands of British Columbia: A Field Guide to Identification
.. Fen Species Importance Table
Species Wf01 Wf02 Wf03 Wf04 Wf05 Wf06 Wf07 Wf08
Shrubs Betula nana x xyzzz x xy x x xyzzz x
Salix barclayi x x xyzzzz
Salix pedicellaris x xyz xy xy xyzz xy
Spiraea douglasii x x x x
Myrica gale
Herbs Carex utriculata xyzzz xyz xy xy xyz x x x
and Carex aquatilis xyzzz xyzz xyzzz xyzz xyz x xyz x
Dwarf Comarum palustre xy xyz xy xy xy xyzz xy
Shrubs Calamagrostis canadensis x xy x xyzz x x x x
Carex lasiocarpa x xyzzzz xyzzzz xy x
Menyanthes trifoliata x x x xyzzz xyzzz xyzz
Carex limosa x x x x xy xyzz xyzzz
Carex chordorrhiza x x xy xyz xy
Eleocharis quinqueflora x x
Trichophorum alpinum x
Trichophorum cespitosumEriophorum angustifolium x xy xy x x xy xy
Caltha leptosepala xy xy
Carex anthoxantheaEquisetum fluviatile x x xy xy xy xy
Carex magellanica x x
Carex sitchensis xy xy xyz xyz x x
Rhynchospora alba x
Carex livida x x x x
Eriophorum chamissonis x x x
Vahlodea atropurpurea x
Drosera anglica x x xy
Hypericum anagalloidesTriantha glutinosa x x xy
Schoenoplectus tabernaemontaniFauria crista-galli
Senecio triangularis x x xyz xy
Andromeda polifolia x xy xy
Kalmia microphylla x x x
Oxycoccus oxycoccos x x x x xy x
Triglochin maritima x x x xy xy
Drosera rotundifolia x x x
Leptarrhena pyrolifolia xy x
Platanthera dilatata x xy x x x
Sanguisorba canadensis x xy
Utricularia intermedia x x x xy
Viola palustris x x x
Lichens Sphagnum Group I xy xyz xyzz x x xyz x
and Aulacomnium palustre x xyz xyz xyzz x x x x
Mosses Drepanocladus spp. xyz x xy xyzz xyz xyz xyz
Sphagnum Group II x xyz x x xyz xy
Tomentypnum nitens x xyzz xyz xy x xyz xy
Philonotis fontana xy xyz
Calliergon stramineum x x x x x
Scorpidium spp. x xy xyzz xy
Campylium stellatum x x xy xy x x
Warnstorfia spp. x xy x x xyz x xy
Meesia triquetra x x xy xy
Chapter 5.2 Fens 81
Wf09 Wf10 Wf11 Wf12 Wf13 Wf50 Wf51 Wf52 Wf53 Common Name
x x xy x scrub birchx x Barclay’s willow
xy x x bog willowx xyz x pink spireax xyzzzz xyz sweet gale
xy x x xy x x beaked sedgex xyz x xy xyz x x water sedgexy x x x xyz xy x marsh cinquefoilx x xy xy xy xy x bluejoint reedgrassx xyz xy x x x xyzzz slender sedge
xyzzz xyz x x x xy x x buckbeanxyz xyzz xyz x xyzz x x shore sedge
xyzz x cordroot sedgexyzzzz x x few-flowered spike-rush
xyzzzz x Hudson Bay clubrushx xyzzzz x xyz x tufted clubrush
xyz x xyz xyzzzz xyzzz xyzzzz xy x narrow-leaved cotton-grassxy x xyzz xyz x x white mtn. marsh-marigold
xy x yellow-flowered sedgex x x swamp horsetailx x xyz x poor sedge
x x x xy x xyzzzz xyzzz x Sitka sedgexy xyzz white beak-rush
xy x x pale sedgex xy Chamisso’s cotton-grass
xy xy x mountain hairgrassx xyzz xy x x x xy great sundew
x x bog St. John’s-wortx xyz xy xy xy sticky asphodel
xy great bulrushxyz x deer-cabbage
x x x x x arrow-leaved groundselxyz x x bog-rosemary
x x xy x xyz x x western bog-laurelx xyz x xy x bog cranberry
xyz x seaside arrow-grassx xy x xy round-leaved sundew
xy xy x x leatherleaf saxifragexy x x xy x x x fragrant white rein orchidx x x xy xy x Sitka burnet
x xy x flat-leaved bladderwortx x x x xy x marsh violet
x xy xy x xyz xyzz xyzz x peat-moss Group Ixy x x xyz xyz xy xy x glow mossxyz xy xy x x hook-mossesxy xyz xyz x x xyzz x peat-moss Group IIxyz xyz x xy x x golden fuzzy fen moss
xy xyz spring mossxy xyz x xy x x x straw spear-mossxy xyzz x x x sausage-moss
xyzzz xyzzz xy yellow star-mossx x xy xy x hook-mossesxy x x three-ranked hump-moss
General Description
The Narrow-leaved cotton-grass – Peat-moss Fen/Bog Site
Association describes a wide range of ecosystems of montane
and subalpine areas of the Coast where there is some surface
seepage. Many sites are sloping but the Wf 50 also occurs on
level sites with a permanent, high
watertable.
As with many sloping peatlands,
sites are microtopographically het-
erogeneous and therefore a mosaic of
vegetation is common. Eriophorum angustifoli-
um is always prominent but other species can
be very abundant on some sites or in specific
locations within the peatland. Tree and shrub
species, if they occur, are on raised sites.
Groundwater seepage pools or surface
drainage channels are common.
Peat deposits are generally < 2 m deep. Mesic sedge peat throughout the
profile is common. Terric and Typic Mesisols are common soil types.
Characteristic Vegetation
Tree layer (0 - 0 - 0)Shrub layer (0 - 3 - 10)Herb layer (39 - 75 - 98)Eriophorum angustifolium, Fauria crista-galli, Kalmia microphylla,Trichophorum cespitosumMoss layer (20 - 75 - 99)Sphagnum Group I
Comments
The Wf50 is analogous to the interior Wf11and Wf12 of subalpine sloping seeps but hasmany coastal species and is generally moreheterogeneous.The complex nature of hydro-logical flow in these sites means that largetracts of homogeneous vegetation are uncommon. Several more specific classification unitsbased on the presence of additional dominants are likely possible with sufficient data. Siteswith high cover of Carex pauciflora, Sanguisorba spp., Fauria crista-galli, Dodecatheon jef-freyi, or Rubus chamaemorus have all been observed.
Chapter 5.2 Fens 95
Narrow-leaved cotton-grass – Peat-moss Wf50
Eriophorum angustifolium – Sphagnum
Wetland Edatopic Grid
A B C D E F
Soil Nutrient Regime
VM
W
VW
VAM
ASA
N
Ak
pH
St
SlM
oDy
VD
Hydro
dynam
ic In
dex
Soil
Mo
istu
re R
egim
e
Ch
ap
ter 5.2F
ens
79
.. Distribution of Fen Site Associations by biogeoclimatic zone
BG BWBS SBPSPP SWB ESSF ICH IDF MS SBS CDF CWH MH
Wf01 Water sedge – Beaked sedge xx x xx xxx xxx xxx xi
Wf02 Scrub birch – Water sedge xxx x xx xx xx xxWf03 Water sedge – Peat-moss xx xWf04 Barclay’s willow – Water sedge – Glow mosss x xxx x xWf05 Slender sedge – Common hook-moss x xx xx xx xxWf06 Slender sedge – Buckbean x x x xWf07 Scrub birch – Buckbean – Shore sedge x x x xWf08 Shore sedge – Buckbean – Hook-moss x x x x xWf09 Few-flowered spike-rush – Hook-moss x x xWf10 Hudson Bay clubrush – Red hook-moss xWf11 Tufted clubrush – Star moss x x x x xWf12 Narrow-leaved cotton-grass – Marsh-marigold xxxWf13 Narrow-leaved cotton-grass – Shore sedge xx xWf50 Narrow-leaved cotton-grass – Peat-moss x xxxWf51 Sitka sedge – Peat-moss x xx xxWf52 Sweet gale – Sitka sedge xx xxs
Wf53 Slender sedge – White beak-rush x xxs
x = incidental; < 5% of wetlands xx = minor; 5–25% of wetlands xxx = major; >25% of wetlands
i = inland areas only s = southern subzones only
80 Wetlands of British Columbia: A Field Guide to Identification
.. Fen Species Importance Table
Species Wf01 Wf02 Wf03 Wf04 Wf05 Wf06 Wf07 Wf08
Shrubs Betula nana x xyzzz x xy x x xyzzz x
Salix barclayi x x xyzzzz
Salix pedicellaris x xyz xy xy xyzz xy
Spiraea douglasii x x x x
Myrica gale
Herbs Carex utriculata xyzzz xyz xy xy xyz x x x
and Carex aquatilis xyzzz xyzz xyzzz xyzz xyz x xyz x
Dwarf Comarum palustre xy xyz xy xy xy xyzz xy
Shrubs Calamagrostis canadensis x xy x xyzz x x x x
Carex lasiocarpa x xyzzzz xyzzzz xy x
Menyanthes trifoliata x x x xyzzz xyzzz xyzz
Carex limosa x x x x xy xyzz xyzzz
Carex chordorrhiza x x xy xyz xy
Eleocharis quinqueflora x x
Trichophorum alpinum x
Trichophorum cespitosumEriophorum angustifolium x xy xy x x xy xy
Caltha leptosepala xy xy
Carex anthoxantheaEquisetum fluviatile x x xy xy xy xy
Carex magellanica x x
Carex sitchensis xy xy xyz xyz x x
Rhynchospora alba x
Carex livida x x x x
Eriophorum chamissonis x x x
Vahlodea atropurpurea x
Drosera anglica x x xy
Hypericum anagalloidesTriantha glutinosa x x xy
Schoenoplectus tabernaemontaniFauria crista-galli
Senecio triangularis x x xyz xy
Andromeda polifolia x xy xy
Kalmia microphylla x x x
Oxycoccus oxycoccos x x x x xy x
Triglochin maritima x x x xy xy
Drosera rotundifolia x x x
Leptarrhena pyrolifolia xy x
Platanthera dilatata x xy x x x
Sanguisorba canadensis x xy
Utricularia intermedia x x x xy
Viola palustris x x x
Lichens Sphagnum Group I xy xyz xyzz x x xyz x
and Aulacomnium palustre x xyz xyz xyzz x x x x
Mosses Drepanocladus spp. xyz x xy xyzz xyz xyz xyz
Sphagnum Group II x xyz x x xyz xy
Tomentypnum nitens x xyzz xyz xy x xyz xy
Philonotis fontana xy xyz
Calliergon stramineum x x x x x
Scorpidium spp. x xy xyzz xy
Campylium stellatum x x xy xy x x
Warnstorfia spp. x xy x x xyz x xy
Meesia triquetra x x xy xy
Chapter 5.2 Fens 81
Wf09 Wf10 Wf11 Wf12 Wf13 Wf50 Wf51 Wf52 Wf53 Common Name
x x xy x scrub birchx x Barclay’s willow
xy x x bog willowx xyz x pink spireax xyzzzz xyz sweet gale
xy x x xy x x beaked sedgex xyz x xy xyz x x water sedgexy x x x xyz xy x marsh cinquefoilx x xy xy xy xy x bluejoint reedgrassx xyz xy x x x xyzzz slender sedge
xyzzz xyz x x x xy x x buckbeanxyz xyzz xyz x xyzz x x shore sedge
xyzz x cordroot sedgexyzzzz x x few-flowered spike-rush
xyzzzz x Hudson Bay clubrushx xyzzzz x xyz x tufted clubrush
xyz x xyz xyzzzz xyzzz xyzzzz xy x narrow-leaved cotton-grassxy x xyzz xyz x x white mtn. marsh-marigold
xy x yellow-flowered sedgex x x swamp horsetailx x xyz x poor sedge
x x x xy x xyzzzz xyzzz x Sitka sedgexy xyzz white beak-rush
xy x x pale sedgex xy Chamisso’s cotton-grass
xy xy x mountain hairgrassx xyzz xy x x x xy great sundew
x x bog St. John’s-wortx xyz xy xy xy sticky asphodel
xy great bulrushxyz x deer-cabbage
x x x x x arrow-leaved groundselxyz x x bog-rosemary
x x xy x xyz x x western bog-laurelx xyz x xy x bog cranberry
xyz x seaside arrow-grassx xy x xy round-leaved sundew
xy xy x x leatherleaf saxifragexy x x xy x x x fragrant white rein orchidx x x xy xy x Sitka burnet
x xy x flat-leaved bladderwortx x x x xy x marsh violet
x xy xy x xyz xyzz xyzz x peat-moss Group Ixy x x xyz xyz xy xy x glow mossxyz xy xy x x hook-mossesxy xyz xyz x x xyzz x peat-moss Group IIxyz xyz x xy x x golden fuzzy fen moss
xy xyz spring mossxy xyz x xy x x x straw spear-mossxy xyzz x x x sausage-moss
xyzzz xyzzz xy yellow star-mossx x xy xy x hook-mossesxy x x three-ranked hump-moss
General Description
Sitka sedge – Peat-moss fens occur at low elevations along the
Coast, in wet drainage channels or hollows in sloping peat-
lands where there is gradually flowing surface water. These
sites are uncommon and often of
small areal extent relative to other
ecosystems of the Coast.
Carex sitchensis grows in dense
swards with Sphagnum species in
carpets or floating in shallow water.
A diversity of other species occurs with low
cover on most sites.
Peat accumulations in the Wf 51 range from
thin veneers to deep blankets of poorly to
well-decomposed peat. Organic layers are often intermixed with mineral
materials. Fibrisols are the most common soil type but Mesisols and Hu-
misols also occur.
Characteristic Vegetation
Tree layer (0 - 0 - 0)Shrub layer (0 - .5 - 5)Herb layer (15 - 82 - 100)Carex sitchensis, Comarum palustreMoss layer (0 - 40 - 100)Sphagnum spp.
Comments
The Wf51 is similar to the Wf 01 in most re-spects but has a coastal distribution; Carexsitchensis replaces Carex aquatilis on theCoast.The presence of Sphagnum on thesesites reflects the wider tolerance to variablehydrology of Sphagnum species that occurin this climate and not to ombrotrophic con-ditions, which is typical in the Interior.
The Wm50 occurs on more hydrologically ac-tive sites than the Wf51.
96 Wetlands of British Columbia: A Field Guide to Identification
Wf51 Sitka sedge – Peat-moss
Carex sitchensis – Sphagnum
Wetland Edatopic Grid
A B C D E F
Soil Nutrient Regime
VM
W
VW
VAM
ASA
N
Ak
pH
St
SlM
oDy
VD
Hydro
dynam
ic In
dex
Soil
Mo
istu
re R
egim
e