TREE

LAYER

SHRUB

LAYER

HERB

LAYER

MOSS LAYER

Pseudotsuga menziesii Thuja plicata

Abies grandis Acer macrophyllurn

Cornus nuttallii Tsuga heterophylla

Abies amabilis Chamaecyparis nootkatensis

Tsuga mertensiana Arbutus menziesii

Gaultheria shallon Mahonia nervosa

Vaccinium parvifolium Rubus ursinus

Rosa gymnocarpa Holodiscus discolor

Symphoricarpos mollis Lonicera ciliosa

Symphoricarpos albus Chimaphila umbellata

Vaccinium alaskaense Acer circinatum

Vaccinium membranaceum Vaccinium ovalifolium

Philadelphus lewisii Linnaea borealis

Polystichum munitum Pteridium aquilinum

Trientalis latifolia Achlys triphylla

Blechnum spicant Clintonia uniflora

Cornus canadensis Rubus pedatus

Hylocomium splendens Kindbergia oregana

Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus Plagiothecium undulatum

Rhytidiadelphus loreus Rhytidiopsis robusta

Douglas-fir western redcedar grand fir bigleaf maple western flowering dogwood western hemlock amabilis fir yellow-cedar mountain hemlock arbutus

salal dull Oregon-grape red huckleberry trailing blackberry baldhip rose ocean spray trailing snowberry western trumpet honeysuckle common snowberry prince's pine Alaskan blueberry vine maple black huckleberry oval-leaved blue berry mock-orange twinflower sword fern bracken

vanilla leaf broad-leaved starflower

deer fern queen's cup bunchberry five-leaved bramble step moss Oregon beaked moss electrified cat's tail moss flat moss lanky moss pipecleaner moss

Biogeoclimatic Unit CDFmm CWHdm CWHmm1 CWHmm2 CWHxm1 CWHxm2 TA

BLE

15. Vegetation table for zonal sites of sum

mer-dry m

aritime

biogeoclimatic units

39

51

CWHvm2 - occurs adjacent and above to the west; it has:• rare Fd• some Yc and Hm (more common on wetter sites)• rare dull Oregon-grape, vanilla-leaf, and Kindbergia oregana

4.6 CWHmm2 - Montane Moist Maritime CoastalWestern Hemlock Variant

DISTRIBUTION: The CWHmm2 occurs at higher elevations along theleeward side of the Vancouver Island Ranges, below the MH zone.Elevational limits range from approximately 700 to 1100 m.

CLIMATE: Compared with the submontane variant, the CWHmm2 hascooler temperatures, shorter growing seasons, and heavier snowfall, withsnowpacks persisting throughout the winter. Like the submontane variant,the CWHmm2 has a growing season water deficit from the rainshadoweffect of the Vancouver Island mountains. Climatic data are lacking forthis variant.

VEGETATION (Table 15): Forests on zonal sites are dominated by Hw, Ba,Fd, and minor amounts of Yc and Hm (more common at upper elevationsand on wetter sites). The understorey features abundant Alaskan blueberryand lesser amounts of salal, oval-leaved blueberry, and black huckleberry.Rhytidiopsis robusta, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, and Hylocomium splendensdominate the well-developed moss layer. A history of wildfires hascontributed to the relatively large stand component of Fd throughout theCWHmm2.

DISTINGUISHING ADJACENT UNITS FROM THE CWHmm2 (using zonalsites)

CWHxm - occurs below; it has:• rare Ba and Alaskan blueberry

CWHmm1 - occurs below; it has:• no Yc or Hm; rare black huckleberry• some dull Oregon-grape and Kindbergia oregana

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

146

Comments: Grid No. 6 CWHmm2

GENERAL COMMENTS:

• Se, Bp and Lw are recommended on a trial basis

• Yc is an alternative to, or may be used with Cw throughout the variant, andshould replace it at upper elevational limits

• Cw is an alternative to Ba on nutrient-very poor to medium sites or on steepslopes

• high hazard for white pine blister rust

SPECIFIC COMMENTS:

01 Fd is an alternative to Hw on steep, southerly aspects or where local climateis warmer/drier than normal; Ba is more suitable on northerly aspects; Se is asuitable minor species, particularly on southerly aspects; Yc is an alternativeto Cw

02 marginal sites for timber production; Fd is an alternative to Pl

03 Se is an alternative to Fd; Lw is a suitable minor species; Yc is an alternativeto Cw

04 Se is an alternative to Fd; Pw or Lw are suitable minor species; Yc is analternative to Cw

05 Fd is an alternative to Ba on steep southerly aspects; Bp is an alternative toBa; Yc is an alternative to Cw; Se or Pw are suitable minor species

06 Yc is an alternative to Cw

07 n/a

08 Hw is suitable on sites with thick forest floors (>20cm) or abundant decayedwood, but should not form the leading species; Yc is an alternative to Cw; Fdis a suitable minor species on steep southerly aspects

09 marginal sites for timber production; elevated microsites are preferred

10 Pw is a suitable minor species; elevated microsites are preferred

MD 0

SD 1

SD 2

F 3

F 4

M 5

VM 6

W 7

Soil nutrient regime

Very Poor Poor Medium Rich Rich

A B C D E

See comments on facing page

Site series

01 HwBa - Pipecleaner moss 06 HwBa - Deer fern

02 FdHw - Salal 07 CwYc- Goldthread

03 HwCw - Salal 08 BaCw - Salmonberry

04 CwHw - Swordfern 09 Pl - Sphagnum

05 BaCw - Foamflower 10 CwSs - Skunk cabbage

Very

Grid No. 5: CWHmm1 Grid No. 6: CWHmm2

MD 0

SD 1

SD 2

F 3

F 4

M 5

VM 6

W 7

Soil Nutrient Regime

Poor Poor Medium Rich Rich Very

A B C D E

MD 0

SD 1

SD 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

Very

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

Sweet gale – Sitka sedge fens are uncommon at low elevations

in the Georgia Depression and Coast and Mountains in a wide

variety of landscape positions. Sites can be shallowly flooded

in the early season but will drop just

below the surface for most of the

growing season.

Myrica gale and Spiraea douglasii

form a closed and sometimes dense

thicket mostly < 1.5 m in height. Carex sitchen-

sis dominates the herb layer but there is a

scattering of other species on most sites. Be-

cause of flooding, the bryophyte layer is

generally sparse but on some sites cover of

Sphagnum or other moss species may be high.

Peat deposits are mostly shallow, moderately to well decomposed sedge

and wood peat. Terric Humisols and Mesisols are common soil types.

Characteristic Vegetation

Tree layer (0 - 0 - 0)Shrub layer (30 - 60 - 85)Myrica gale, Spiraea douglasiiHerb layer (20 - 35 - 100)Carex sitchensisMoss layer (0 - 14 - 60)Sphagnum spp.

Comments

The Wf52 Site Association is common as acomponent of many peatlands in the southCoast. It is most often found in complex withthe Wm50 in more peripheral (and drier) locations but occurs around other Site Associ-ations as well, including estuarine marshes.

Shrub thickets dominated by Spiraea dou-glasii with sparse Myrica gale and Carex spp.are common in the region where the Wf52occurs.These communities are usually onmineral soil and described by the Ws50 SiteAssociation.

Chapter 5.2 Fens 97

Sweet gale – Sitka sedge Wf52

Myrica gale – Carex sitchensis

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

Slender sedge – White beak-rush fens occur in the Georgia

Depression at elevations below 600 m. The Wf 53 requires

permanently saturated soils and is tolerant of prolonged shal-

low inundation. Lake margins are the most common location

but some isolated basins may also

have suitable conditions.

Carex lasiocarpa is always abundant and

dominant. Rhynchospora alba and scattered

low-growing Myrica gale occur on most sites.

However, wetter sites often lack these species

and have aquatic species such as Nuphar lutea,

Brasenia schreberi, or Menyanthes trifoliata in-

stead. Schoenoplectus acutus grows in more

alkaline examples of the Wf 53.

Soils are shallow mesic or humic peat of sedge

or limnic origin. Terric Mesisols and Humisols are common soil types.

Characteristic Vegetation

Tree layer (0 - 0 - 0)Shrub layer (0 - 3 - 10)Myrica galeHerb layer (60 - 80 - 85)Carex lasiocarpa, Rhynchospora albaMoss layer (0 - 2 - 8)

Comments

Coastal Carex lasiocarpa stands occur on arange of ecological conditions from semi-ter-restrial to shallowly flooded and marsh-likepeatlands. Ceska (1978) observed variants ofthis unit: a typic with Rhynchospora alba, alimose variant with Nuphar lutea, a minericvariant with Dulichium arundinaceum andSchoenoplectus acutus, and a higher-elevation variant with Carex limosa. With sufficient additional data, several more specific clas-sification units based on the presence of additional dominants might be indicated. Carexlasiocarpa communities with abundant Spiraea douglasii and Myrica gale occur on drier andhummocky sites (see additional units).

The Wf52 is similar but grows on drier and more acidic sites than the Wf53.The Wf53 is analo-gous to the Wf 05 of the Interior but has little or no moss cover and includes coastal species.

98 Wetlands of British Columbia: A Field Guide to Identification

Wf53 Slender sedge – White beak-rush

Carex lasiocarpa – Rhynchospora alba

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