Characteristic Plants Sedge - Heath These plants are frequently found in this community type. Those with an asterisk are State Rank S4 Similar Types often diagnostic of this community. Leatherleaf Boggy Fen is shrubbier, has Sapling/shrub Community Description more leatherleaf than sedge cover, and has Larch* This open peatland type is dominated by tufted cotton-grass or tawny cotton-grass Mountain holly* a layer of mixed dwarf heath shrubs and as prominent sedges. Sheep Laurel Dwarf Dwarf Shrub sedges. Small larches, rarely tree sized, Shrub is drier and shrubbier and Bog rosemary* are often scattered across the surface Large cranberry* features sheep laurel as the dominant shrub. Sedge – Heath Fen but contribute little cover. Leatherleaf, Low Sedge - Buckbean Fen Lawn occurs in Leatherleaf* sweetgale, or bog rosemary may be the similar, although usually somewhat wetter in Maine and is fairly stable in extent, Sheep laurel dominant shrub, and shrub cover is settings. It has a greater dominance of with several examples on public lands and Small cranberry generally 20-40%. Sedges contribute 20- sedges than shrubs and often features mud private conservation lands. Impoundment Herb 70% cover. Narrow-leaved cotton-grass, sedge and podgrass. Mixed Tall Sedge Fen or draining would have negative impacts Bog aster* few-seeded sedge, and Michaux’s sedge can consist of leatherleaf among sedges, but on bog hydrology and on vegetation. Slow Bog goldenrod are typical dominants. Pitcher plants are the sedges will be large and robust species vegetation growth rates, due to the nutrient Coast sedge* usually present. The ground layer is a such as slender sedge, beaked sedge, and poor setting, result in slow recovery from Few-flowered sedge* carpet of peat mosses, often with tracings inflated sedge. physical disturbances, such as recreational Few-seeded sedge* of large cranberry running across the trail use. If disturbance, such as trail Narrow-leaved cotton-grass* surface. Conservation, Wildlife, and crossing, is a priority, traversing during Pitcher plant Management Considerations frozen conditions or using boardwalks can Round-leaved sundew Soil and Site Characteristics This community type is well represented minimize impacts. Slender sedge Sedge - Leatherleaf Fen Lawn This type occurs in open peatlands, often Spatulate-leaved sundew in areas transitional from Location Map Several rare dragonflies may be found in this White beak-rush* (ombrotrophic) to fen () community, especially in very wet locations Yellowish sedge conditions. Sites are typically acidic (pH with abundant peat moss (often suspended Bryoid 4.0-5.4) but sometimes circumneutral. in the water column). The Quebec emerald Sphagnum magellanicum* Peat substrate is saturated to the surface, is found in northern Maine, and the ringed or nearly so. This type most often occurs boghaunter is restricted to the southern part Associated Rare Animals at low to moderate elevations. of the state in York and southern Oxford Quebec emerald Counties. In northwestern Maine this type Ringed boghaunter Diagnostics may support the bog fritillary butterfly, Open peatland vegetation consists of which uses small cranberry as its larval host sedges and dwarf shrubs (leatherleaf, bog plant. Examples on Conservation rosemary, sweetgale). Sedge cover exceeds Lands You Can Visit shrub cover. Dominant sedges include Distribution • Acadia National Park – Hancock Co. few-seeded sedge, coast sedge, Michaux’s Statewide, though more common • Great Heath Public Lands – sedge, white beakrush, and narrow-leaved northward. Throughout northern Washington Co cotton-grass. New England and New York; Canadian • Great Wass Island Preserve – distribution unknown. Washington Co • Number Five Bog Public Lands Landscape Pattern: Small Patch – Somerset Co. • Salmon Brook Lake Bog Public Lands – Aroostook Co. • St. John River Preserve – Aroostook/ Somerset Co. Sheep Laurel Maine Natural Areas Program