Boreal northern bilberry spruce swamp forests
Description (English)
Oligotrophic, species-poor spruce swamp woods of the western Palaearctic taiga zone dominated by Picea abies or Picea obovata in the tree layer and an understorey dominated by hygrophile ericoid shrubs, Vaccinium uliginosum and Vaccinium myrtillus, by Equisetum sylvaticum and by sphagnum carpets formed by Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum angustifolium, developed on oligotrophic, hydromorphic soils with carr-peat or raw humus by lake-shores, on mire margins, in hollows and on slopes. The species cortège includes Betula pubescens, Betula nana, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Empetrum spp., Rubus chamaemorus, Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum fuscum and, notably in eastern Scandinavia, Ledum palustre, Carex globularis.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
| EUNIS habitat type | code T3-K241 |
|---|
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableSpecies mentioned in habitat description
Conifers
Picea abies
Conifers
Picea obovata
Ferns
Equisetum sylvaticum
Flowering Plants
Betula nana
Flowering Plants
Betula pubescens
Flowering Plants
Carex globularis
Flowering Plants
Ledum palustre
Flowering Plants
Rubus chamaemorus
Flowering Plants
Vaccinium myrtillus
Flowering Plants
Vaccinium uliginosum
Flowering Plants
Vaccinium vitis-idaea
Mosses & Liverworts
Polytrichum commune
Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum angustifolium
Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum fuscum
Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum girgensohnii
Mosses & Liverworts
Sphagnum russowii
| Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
|---|---|---|
| Picea abies | Conifers | |
| Picea obovata | Conifers | |
| Equisetum sylvaticum | Ferns | |
| Betula nana | Flowering Plants | |
| Betula pubescens | Flowering Plants | |
| Carex globularis | Flowering Plants | |
| Ledum palustre | Flowering Plants | |
| Rubus chamaemorus | Flowering Plants | |
| Vaccinium myrtillus | Flowering Plants | |
| Vaccinium uliginosum | Flowering Plants | |
| Vaccinium vitis-idaea | Flowering Plants | |
| Polytrichum commune | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Sphagnum angustifolium | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Sphagnum fuscum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Sphagnum girgensohnii | Mosses & Liverworts | |
| Sphagnum russowii | Mosses & Liverworts |
Other classifications
History
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | G3.D541 | Boreal northern bilberry spruce swamp woods | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | G3.D541 | Boreal northern bilberry spruce swamp woods | same | |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | G3.D541 | Boreal northern bilberry spruce swamp woods | same |
