A fen is a type of peat-accumulating wetland fed by mineral-rich ground or surface water. It is one of the main types of wetlands along with marshes, swamps, and bogs. Bogs and fens, which are both peat-forming ecosystems, are also known as mires. Fens are characterized by their unique water chemistry, which is a result of the ground or surface water input. Typically, this input results in higher mineral concentrations and a more basic pH than bogs. As peat accumulates in a fen, groundwater input can be reduced or cut off, making the fen ombrotrophic rather than minerotrophic. In this way, fens can become more acidic and transition to bogs over time.
Juncaceae is a family of flowering plants, commonly known as the rush family. It consists of 8 genera and about 464 known species of slow-growing, rhizomatous, herbaceous monocotyledonous plants that may superficially resemble grasses and sedges. They often grow on infertile soils in a wide range of moisture conditions. The best-known and largest genus is Juncus. Most of the Juncus species grow exclusively in wetland habitats. A few rushes, such as Juncus bufonius are annuals, but most are perennials.
Juncus is a genus of monocotyledonous flowering plants, commonly known as rushes. It is the largest genus in the family Juncaceae, containing around 300 species.
The North American beaver is one of two extant beaver species, along with the Eurasian beaver. It is native to North America and introduced in South America (Patagonia) and Europe. In the United States and Canada, the species is often referred to simply as "beaver", though this causes some confusion because another distantly related rodent, Aplodontia rufa, is often called the "mountain beaver". Other vernacular names, including American beaver and Canadian beaver, distinguish this species from the other extant beaver species, Castor fiber, which is native to Eurasia. The North American beaver is one of the official wildlife of Canada symbols and is the official state mammal of Oregon and New York.
Aquilegia canadensis, the Canadian or Canada columbine, eastern red columbine, or wild columbine, is a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. It is an herbaceous perennial native to woodland and rocky slopes in eastern North America, prized for its red and yellow flowers. It readily hybridizes with other species in the genus Aquilegia.
Juncus effusus, with the common names common rush or soft rush, is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant species in the family Juncaceae. In North America, the common name soft rush also refers to Juncus interior.
Taxus canadensis, the Canada yew or Canadian yew, is a conifer native to central and eastern North America, thriving in swampy woods, ravines, riverbanks and on lake shores. Locally called simply "yew", this species is also referred to as American yew or ground-hemlock.
Pedicularis canadensis, commonly called Canadian lousewort or wood betony, is a flowering plant in the family Orobanchaceae. It is native to North America, where it is found in southeastern Canada, the eastern United States, and eastern Mexico. It has a wide-ranging natural habitat, being found in mesic to dry, forests, woodlands, and prairies.
Juncus acutus, the spiny rush, sharp rush or sharp-pointed rush, is a flowering plant in the monocot family Juncaceae.
Juncus kraussii commonly known as salt marsh rush, sea rush, jointed rush, matting rush or dune slack rush, is of the monocot family Juncaceae and genus Juncus. It grows in salt marshes, estuarine and coastal areas.
Juncus acutiflorus, also called sharp-flowered rush, is a rush or a grassy plant of the genus Juncus. As the name suggests, the plant has notable sharp-looking flowers, flowering between July and September.
Sparganium americanum, American bur-reed, is a perennial plant found in the United States of America and Canada. Though this species resembles a grass, it is a type of bur-reed. This species is important for conservation purposes because it has the ability to remove nitrogen and phosphorus runoff from water, like many other wetland species. By doing this it protects waterways from excess nitrogen which can cause eutrophication. This increased nitrogen is especially a problem during the farmers’ growing season. During this same time frame the S. americanum is growing and taking up nitrogen.
The Southern Hudson Bay taiga is a terrestrial ecoregion, as classified by the World Wildlife Fund, which extends along the southern coast of Hudson Bay and resides within the larger taiga biome. Entirely located in Canada, it covers an area of approximately 373,735 km2 and crosses the provinces of Manitoba, Ontario, and the western portion of Quebec. Various islands in James Bay which belong to the Northwest Territories are also considered to be part of the ecoregion.
Juncus ingens, common name giant rush, is a dioecious perennial with horizontal or ascending rhizomes. The stems are erect, dull green, (1.5–2–5 m tall and 4–10 mm in diameter, cataphylls are to 40 cm or more long. The inflorescence is large and drooping, with many flowers scattered along fine branchlets. Flowers occur mostly October-January, seeds are shed mostly December-April. Juncus ingens was first described by Norman Wakefield in 1957. It is one of only two known dioecious species of Juncus native to Australia, the other being Juncus psammophilus.
Juncus marginatus is a species of flowering plant, it is a type of rush with the common names of margined rush and grass-leaf rush.
Juncus filiformis, called the thread rush, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Juncus, with a circumboreal distribution. It has been introduced to South Georgia Island. It is typically found in wetlands, on the borders of lakes and streams.
Juncus alpinoarticulatus, called the northern green rush and the alpine rush, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Juncus, with a circumboreal distribution. It prefers wet sandy soils, peat bogs, acidic fens, and ditches.
Juncus arcticus, called the arctic rush, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Juncus, native to the subarctic and subalpine northern hemisphere. It is typically found in wetland and riparian habitats.
Juncus triglumis, called the three-flowered rush, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Juncus, native to the subarctic and subalpine Northern Hemisphere. It is typically found in calcareous tundra habitats and arcto-alpine fens. It is often found in association with Carex atrofusca and Carex bicolor in the so-called Caricion bicolori-atrofuscae alliance.
