Coniferous swamp
Encyclopedia
Coniferous swamps are forested wetlands in which the dominant trees are lowland conifers such as northern white cedar (thuja occidentalis
). The soil in these swamp areas are typically saturated for most of the growing season and are occasionally inundated by seasonal storms or winter snow melt.
The substrate is usually organic in nature and may contain peat
in varying amounts or be composed entirely of muck
. The swamp substrate is typically nutrient rich and neutral to alkaline but can be acidic and nutrient poor.
Coniferous swamps vary in composition, with different species of conifer dominating, and varying amounts of deciduous hardwoods growing within the swamp. A wide diversity of plants are represented within the swamp with certain species dominating in a variety of microhabitats dependent on factors such as available sunlight as in cases of trees downed by wind or disease, soil Ph, standing groundwater and differences of elevation within the swamp such as tussocks and nurse log
s.
The different types of coniferous swamps are referred to according to their dominant trees rich conifer swamp dominated by Northern white-cedar which typically occur south of the climatic tension zone
throughout the Midwest and northeastern United States and adjacent areas in Canada. North of the climatic tension zone, tamarack (Larix laricina) is the dominant species of conifer in minerotrophic
wetlands, classified as a rich tamarack swamp. A roughly equal mix of hardwood trees and conifers a known as a hardwood-conifer swamp.
.
Thuja occidentalis
Thuja occidentalis is an evergreen coniferous tree, in the cypress family Cupressaceae, which is widely cultivated for use as an ornamental plant known as American Arbor Vitae. The endemic occurrence of this species is a northeastern distribution in North America...
). The soil in these swamp areas are typically saturated for most of the growing season and are occasionally inundated by seasonal storms or winter snow melt.
The substrate is usually organic in nature and may contain peat
Peat
Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter or histosol. Peat forms in wetland bogs, moors, muskegs, pocosins, mires, and peat swamp forests. Peat is harvested as an important source of fuel in certain parts of the world...
in varying amounts or be composed entirely of muck
Hydric soil
A hydric soil is a soil that formed under conditions of saturation, flooding, or ponding long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper part....
. The swamp substrate is typically nutrient rich and neutral to alkaline but can be acidic and nutrient poor.
Coniferous swamps vary in composition, with different species of conifer dominating, and varying amounts of deciduous hardwoods growing within the swamp. A wide diversity of plants are represented within the swamp with certain species dominating in a variety of microhabitats dependent on factors such as available sunlight as in cases of trees downed by wind or disease, soil Ph, standing groundwater and differences of elevation within the swamp such as tussocks and nurse log
Nurse log
A nurse log is a fallen tree which, as it decays, provides ecological facilitation to seedlings. Broader definitions include providing shade or support to other plants. Some of the advantages a nurse log offers to a seedling are: water, moss thickness, leaf litter, mycorrhizae, disease protection,...
s.
The different types of coniferous swamps are referred to according to their dominant trees rich conifer swamp dominated by Northern white-cedar which typically occur south of the climatic tension zone
Tension zone
A tension zone is a transitional zone between two distinctive zones, the zones may be influenced by climatic factors, and geologicalvariation. creating a floristic tension zone.A marine tension zone may be affected by variables such as depth, climate or salinity.In a tension zone there is the...
throughout the Midwest and northeastern United States and adjacent areas in Canada. North of the climatic tension zone, tamarack (Larix laricina) is the dominant species of conifer in minerotrophic
Minerotrophic
Minerotrophic refers to soils and vegetation whose water supply comes mainly from streams or springs. This water has flowed over or through rocks or other minerals, often acquiring dissolved chemicals which raise the nutrient levels and reduce the acidity...
wetlands, classified as a rich tamarack swamp. A roughly equal mix of hardwood trees and conifers a known as a hardwood-conifer swamp.
Trees
A variety of both evergreen and deciduous trees may be present in the rich conifer swamp in addition to the dominant species.- Thuja occidentalisThuja occidentalisThuja occidentalis is an evergreen coniferous tree, in the cypress family Cupressaceae, which is widely cultivated for use as an ornamental plant known as American Arbor Vitae. The endemic occurrence of this species is a northeastern distribution in North America...
Northern white cedar, the dominant conifer, also known as arborvitae a common landscape specimen in northern U.S. states and Canada. - Abies balsamea Balsam fir
- Acer rubrum Red maple
- Betula papyrifera Paper birch)
- Cornus stolonifera Red-osier dogwood
- Cornus florida Flowering dogwood
- Larix laricina Tamarack
- Picea mariana Black spruce
- Picea glauca White spruce
- Pinus strobus White pine
- Tsuga canadensis Hemlock
- Ulmus americana American elm
- Populus tremuloidesPopulus tremuloidesPopulus tremuloides is a deciduous tree native to cooler areas of North America, commonly called quaking aspen, trembling aspen, American aspen, and Quakies,. The trees have tall trunks, up to 25 metres, with smooth pale bark, scarred with black. The glossy green leaves, dull beneath, become golden...
Quaking aspen - Populus balsamiferaPopulus balsamiferaPopulus balsamifera, commonly called balsam poplar, bamtree, eastern balsam poplar, hackmatack, tacamahac poplar, tacamahaca,...
Balsam poplar
Shrubs
- Alnus rugosa Tag elder
- Ilex verticillata Winterberry
- Ilex mucronata Mountain holly
- Sambucus racemosaSambucus racemosaSambucus racemosa is a species of elderberry known by the common name Red Elderberry. It is native to Europe, temperate Asia, and north and central North America. It grows in riparian environments, woodlands, and other habitat, generally in moist areas. This often treelike shrub grows 2 to 6 meters...
Red elderberry - Gaylussacia baccataGaylussacia baccataGaylussacia baccata, the Black Huckleberry, is a common huckleberry found throughout a wide area of northeastern North America. It closely resembles the blueberry plants with which it grows, but can be readily identified by the numerous resin dots on the undersides of the leaves which glitter when...
Huckleberry - Taxus canadensisTaxus canadensisTaxus canadensis is a conifer native to central and eastern North America, thriving in swampy woods, ravines, riverbanks and on lake shores. Locally called simply "Yew", this species is also referred to as American Yew or Ground-hemlock.Most of its range is well north of the Ohio River...
Canadian yew - Lonicera canadensisLonicera canadensisLonicera canadensis is a flowering deciduous, perennial, phanerophytic shrub which is monoclinous and grows 1–2 m tall. It is the only member of its genus with hairless leaf structures. It typically flowers from the last week of April until the third or fourth week of May...
American fly honeysuckle - Lonicera oblongifolia Swamp fly honeysuckle
- Vaccinium angustifolium Low sweet blueberry
- Vaccinium myrtilloides Canada blueberry
- Ribes americanum Wild black currant
- Ribes triste Swamp red currant
- Ribes lacustreRibes lacustreThe shrub Ribes lacustre is known by the common names prickly currant, swamp gooseberry, and black gooseberry. It is widely distributed, from California to Alaska and across North America to Pennsylvania and Newfoundland....
Swamp black currant
Ferns
- Osmunda cinnamomea Cinnamin fern
- Thelypteris palustrisThelypteris palustrisThelypteris palustris, or the marsh fern, is a fern native to eastern North America and across Eurasia. It prefers to grow in marshy situations in full sun.-References:*...
Marsh fern - Osmunda spectabilisOsmunda spectabilisOsmunda spectabilis is a species of fern once thought to be the same as Osmunda regalis, but recent genetic studies have shown it to be a separate species. -Description:...
Royal fern - Gymnocarpium dryopteris Oak fern
Gramminoids
A variety of grasses and sedges may be present including multiple varieties of carexCarex
Carex is a genus of plants in the family Cyperaceae, commonly known as sedges. Other members of the Cyperaceae family are also called sedges, however those of genus Carex may be called "true" sedges, and it is the most species-rich genus in the family. The study of Carex is known as...
.
- Glyceria striataGlyceria striataGlyceria striata is a species of mannagrass known by the common names fowl mannagrass and ridged glyceria. It is native to much of North America, from Alaska and northern Canada to northern Mexico....
(Fowl manna grass)
Orchids
- Cypripedium calceolusCypripedium calceolusCypripedium calceolus is a lady's-slipper orchid, and the type species of the genus Cypripedium.It is a widespread plant worldwide, found from Europe east through Asia to the Pacific Ocean. It is found in open woodland on moist calcareous soils. It is found in continental Europe growing in the...
Yellow lady’s-slipper - Platanthera hyperboreaPlatanthera hyperboreaDescription: Platanthera hyperborea is a green to yellowish-green perennial, monocot herb growing 10–90 cm.Similar species: Platanthera hyperborea is similar to Platanthera dilatata, the two hybridize freely, and produce intermediate offspring, the labellum, is strongly dilated at the base in...
Tall northern bog orchid