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