Characteristic Plants Alder Thicket These plants are frequently found in this community type. Those with an asterisk are State Rank S5 Similar Types often diagnostic of this community. Alder Floodplains occur on mineral Sapling/shrub Community Description soils along medium to large rivers Balsam fir* These tall (1-3 m) shrub dominated rather than in basins. Tussock Sedge Black spruce* wetlands are characterized by dense Meadows, Bluejoint Meadows, and Common blackberry* growth of alder. Speckled alder is most Mixed Graminoid - Shrub Marshes may Gray birch* typical, but rarely mountain alder or have alder as a sub-dominant species, Hardhack* with lower cover than the graminoids. Meadowsweet smooth alder may predominate. Red Alder Thicket maple, gray birch, or other trees may Mountain Holly - Alder Woodland Fens Mountain alder* be scattered sparsely above the shrubs. occur as part of a peatland and have occur in close proximity to open water, Red maple* The herb layer is usually well developed mountain holly or heath shrubs mixed may provide habitat for common bird Speckled alder* (>35% cover), and is a variable with the alder. Dogwood - Willow species such as common yellowthroat, Herb mixture of forbs, graminoids, and Shoreline Thickets often contain alder, alder flycatcher, Wilson’s warbler, and Bluejoint but it is sub-dominant. Cinnamon fern Alder Shrub Thicket ferns. The bryoid layer is patchy and Lincoln’s sparrow. Some occurrences of dominated by peat mosses, especially this community type support vernal pools, Flat-topped white aster* Sphagnum girghensonii, S. palustre, and S. Conservation, Wildlife, and which are important breeding habitat for Royal fern magellanicum. Management Considerations a variety of amphibians including wood Sensitive fern* Well distributed and well replicated. frogs, spotted salamanders, and blue- Swamp dewberry* Soil and Site Characteristics These shrublands, especially when they spotted salamanders. Rare turtles like the Three-seeded sedge This type occurs in basin wetlands wood turtle, or Blanding’s and spotted Tussock sedge* that are usually saturated and may be Location Map turtles in southern Maine, may feed on Wild calla seasonally flooded throughout the amphibian egg masses present in such Bryoid season. It is usually on muck or on pools. Sphagnum mosses* peat. This type is very common as wet cleared areas revert to forest, such as old Distribution Associated Rare Plants beaver meadows. Statewide; extending in all directions from Bog bedstraw Maine. Northern bog sedge Diagnostics These are shrub-dominated wetlands Landscape Pattern: Small to Large Patch Associated Rare Animals on peat or muck soils, often only Blanding’s turtle temporarily flooded, in which alders Spotted turtle dominate and comprise >20% cover, Examples on Conservation Wood turtle usually >40%. Lands You Can Visit • Bigelow Preserve Public Lands • Muddy River Wildlife Management – Somerset Co. Area – Sagadahoc Co. • Bradley Wildlife Management Area • Narraguagus Wildlife Management – Penobscot Co. Unit – Washington Co. • Branch Lake Wildlife Management • Redington Pond Public Lands Unit – Hancock Co. – Franklin Co. • Kennebunk Plains Preserve – York Co.

Spotted Turtle Maine Natural Areas Program