CO 



northern United States. Extensive boggy peatlands occur in northern Z 



Minnesota. Southward they are restricted primarily to mountainous re- > 



gions and on the Coastal Plain are represented in the Carolina Bay re- q 



gion. The vegetation includes distinctive flora and fauna. Spruce bogs ^ 



within the northeast deciduous forests represent disjunct northern [H 



biota. Northern white cedar and southern white cedar types are recog- C 



nized, the latter along the Coastal Plain. In the North: black spruce Z 



(Picea mariana), larch (Lari.x laricina), southern white cedar <# 



( Chamaecypari s thyoide s ) , northern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis), 

 heath shrubs such as bog laurel (Kalmia polifolia), Labrador-tea 

 (Ledum groenlandicum), leather leaf (Chamaedaphne calyculata), cran- 

 berries (Vaccinium spp.), and swamp loosestrife (Decodon verticil- 

 latus), and bog sedges (Carex spp.). In the South: bay (Persea spp.), 

 loblolly bay (Gordonia lasianthus), leatherwood (Cyrilla racemiflora), 

 sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana), pond pine (Pinus serotina), and Vir- 

 ginia chainfern (Woodwardia virginiana). jCPrf^vLeL*Jp&*^7 ti *f* i *' i '' i> 



RIPARIAN (R). These habitats consist of narrow bands of vegeta- 

 tion found along water courses. They may be transitional between 

 seasonally flooded types (F-l ) and more mesic vegetation. In some in- 

 stances their flora is unique (e.g., desert palms). 



Saline Wetland Types 



SALINE FLATS (S-9). The water table is at or near the surface dur- 

 ing the growing season, but is only flooded following heavy precipita- 

 tion. They occur in undrained sumps, often covering extensive areas in 

 parts of the arid West, especially Utah. The vegetation is usually very 

 sparse. Their flora includes various halophytes such as seablite (Suaeda 

 depressa), salt grass (Distichlis spicata), Nevada bulrush (Scirpus 

 nevadensis), salt bush (Atriplex spp.), and burro-weed (Allenrolfea oc- 

 cidentalis). 



SALINE MARSHES (S-10). These occur in shallow lake basins, 

 where the soil is saturated during the growing season and is usually 

 covered with several inches of water, from Kansas westward, but espe- 

 cially common in Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, and Utah. The vegetation 

 consists of emergent and submerged aquatic forms, including sago 

 pondweed (Potamogeton pectinatus) and hardstem bulrush (Scirpus 

 acuius). 



OPEN SALINE WATER (S-l 1 ). These open saline aquatic areas are 

 typically associated with the saline marshes and flats. Water depth is 

 highly variable but usually less than 6 ft. The vegetation consists 

 chiefly of submerged aquatics, such as sago pondweed (Potamogeton 

 pectinatus), ditchgrass (Ruppia maritima), and the alga (Chara spp.). 



Literature cited 



Kuchler, A. W. 1964. Potential natural vegetation of the conterminous 

 United States. Am. Geographical Soc, Spec. Publ. No. 36. 



