Carmen:
Welcome to Song Plants.
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My name is Carmen Porter.
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I wanted to do an episode about
wetland classification, but found
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that it is heavily complicated by
legal and regional specifications.
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There are multiple official classification
systems in use, and they differ
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enough that I've chosen not to expand
upon their multitude of variations.
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Instead, I will define some common
terms and give a basic overview.
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It can be useful when foraging,
hunting, or even just exploring
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to be able to recognize and name
different types of wetlands.
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Each provides a unique environment
hosting flora and fauna
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adapted to their conditions.
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According to Merriam Webster, a bog is
"a poorly drained, usually acid area,
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rich in accumulated plant material."
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Bogs are often peatlands.
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The peat forms as the sphagnum
mosses grow and die, forming a
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dense mat of soggy organic material.
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The growth exceeds the rate of
decomposition, leaving the growing
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substrate nutrient deprived.
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The main water source is precipitation.
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Certain plants, like honeydews (Drosera
spp.) and pitcher plants (Sarracenia
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spp.), have adapted to this environment
by attracting and digesting insects.
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Others, like black spruce (Picea
mariana), tolerate the conditions,
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but have their growth stunted.
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Bog cranberries (Vaccinium spp.), Labrador
tea (Rhododendron groenlandicum) and
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cottongrass ( Eriophorum spp.) are
all examples of plants that developed
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a preference for the damp acidity.
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Seasonal water may or may not
appear on the surface, but the
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ground is always saturated.
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Fens are defined by Merriam Webster
as being "low land that is covered
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wholly or partly with water and that
usually has peaty alkaline soil."
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Fens differ from bogs in that they are fed
by multiple water sources, hence are more
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mineral rich and are often less acidic.
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Fens can be peatlands, but
due to the mineralization,
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more diverse flora can thrive.
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Though many bog species may be present,
others such as tamarack (Larix laricinia),
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willows (Salix spp.), shrub birches
(Betula spp.), boreal orchid, if you're
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lucky, (Platanthera dilatata), and
sedges (Carix spp.), thrive in fens.
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Tree growth tends to be less stunted.
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Merriam Webster describes marshes
as being "a track of soft, wet land
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usually characterized by monocotyledons,
(such as grasses or cattails)".
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Marshes are fed by multiple water
sources, allowing mineralization.
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The rate at which plant material
decomposes often exceeds that of growth.
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Therefore, an abundance of
available nutrients is released.
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Water level is at or above
the ground surface, but can
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vary throughout the season.
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They can be brackish, but both slightly
salty and freshwater marshes are
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dominated by grasses (Poaceae), sedges
(Cyperaceae), and rushes (Juncaceae).
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A diversity of regional herbaceous species
thrive, but trees tend to be absent.
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Swamps tend to flood seasonally,
but the water table remains at
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or close to the surface all year.
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They're often the overflow for
a river or other body of water.
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Their soil is usually mineral rich with
an abundance of available nutrients.
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Flood tolerant and water loving
trees and shrubs dominate.
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Some familiar species like black
spruce, tamarack, birch, and
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willow can be present but grow much
larger than those in bogs and fens.
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Poplar (Populus spp.), alder ( Alnus
spp.), and dogwood (Cornus spp.) can often
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be found as well as ferns and an abundance
of other regional herbaceous delights.
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There are a multitude of subcategories
and regional specifications that
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fall under Each of those general
terms, I enthusiastically encourage
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you to put on some waders and
explore your local wetlands.
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The biodiversity in these habitats
is astonishing and specialized.
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Also check back regularly throughout
the season, as wetlands are critical
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to the life cycles and migratory
patterns of many creatures.
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The soundscape of a healthy
wetland in the spring is unmatched.
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Thanks for listening.
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I apologize.
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It has again been a long wait
between episodes, and I deeply
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appreciate your patience and loyalty.
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Your kind words and encouragement
are fueling this project.
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This is the last of the
Waterplant Waltz series.
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If you want to check out the tune, by that
name, it's on my website, CarmenPorter.
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com, or any music streaming service.
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Stay tuned as we explore the contents of
the new tune, next episode, Solanaceae.
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Happy growing.
