Acadian Near-Boreal Spruce Flat
These moist spruce-fir forests are found in the colder regions of the Northern Appalachian and Acadian region, forming extensive flats along valley bottoms where the soils are imperfectly drained. The nutrient-poor acidic soils are typically saturated during snowmelt but are moderately well-drained for much of the growing season and may be reasonably dry at the soil surface. Thus, while the soil characteristics mark these as wetlands, the vegetation is primarily species that can be found in uplands as well as wetlands, and many species are shared with Acadian Low-Elevation Spruce-Fir-Hardwood Forest. The mostly closed-canopy forests have red spruce, black spruce, and balsam fir as the dominant trees; other conifers are often present. Mosses and liverworts are abundant and may form a deep carpet, reflecting the cool and moist environment. Other layers are typically rather sparse. These forests are extensively used for commercial timber production. For more information, see NatureServe Explorer.
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