Cedar Bog
Cedar Bog in Ohio is a rare and special ecosystem, featuring both a fen and swamp forest environment. The landscape is mostly flat, with open wetlands and sections of dense forest. Unlike true bogs, which are acidic, fens like Cedar Bog are fed by mineral-rich groundwater, creating more alkaline conditions that support a wider variety of plant species. This calcium-rich groundwater is key to the unique biodiversity found in the fen.
In the overstory of the swamp forest, you’ll find trees like Eastern white cedar and silver maple forming a tall canopy, casting shade and cooling the environment below. The shrub layer is home to plants like buttonbush and winterberry, which thrive in the wet, nutrient-dense soils. At ground level, the ground cover includes a range of wetland species with plenty of sedges, forbs, and grasses, all adapted to the constantly moist and fertile conditions of the fen.
The geology here plays a big role in shaping Cedar Bog’s unique environment. The fen sits on an ancient glacial outwash, which allows mineral-rich water to rise from below, creating the alkaline, waterlogged soils that are essential for this ecosystem. This specific geologic foundation supports a diverse range of plants and wildlife, making Cedar Bog an important and unique habitat in Ohio. The contrast between sunny, open wetlands and shady swamp forests allows for a rich mix of species to thrive in this groundwater-fed environment.
Coefficient of Conservatisim
The Coefficient of Conservatism (CC) is a number (from 0 to 10) assigned to plant species based on their habitat preferences and tolerance to disturbance. Plants with high CC values (8-10) are sensitive to environmental changes and typically found in undisturbed, pristine habitats. In contrast, plants with low CC values (0-3) are generalists that can thrive in a variety of conditions, including disturbed areas. This system helps ecologists evaluate habitat quality and disturbance levels.
Here are a few conservative plants:
Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia glauca)
Description: Grass of Parnassus is a delicate, beautiful plant found in wetlands and fens. Despite the name, it’s not actually a grass. It has round, slightly heart-shaped leaves at the base, and its most striking feature is its white, five-petaled flowers with green veins, blooming in late summer.
How to Identify: Look for its white, veined flowers and the basal leaves that are round or heart-shaped. It stands out in wet, open areas.
CC-10: Grass of Parnassus is highly specialized to undisturbed wetland environments with alkaline soils, making it very sensitive to habitat disturbance and loss.
Swamp Birch (Betula pumila)
Description: Swamp Birch is a small, multi-stemmed shrub that grows in wetlands and fens. It has reddish-brown bark that peels in thin strips and small, rounded leaves with serrated edges.
How to Identify: The peeling bark and small, rounded leaves with serrated edges make it easy to spot. It typically grows in clusters in wet areas.
CC-10: Swamp Birch thrives in specific wetland conditions and is sensitive to changes in water levels or soil quality, making it a high-conservatism species.
Shrubby Cinquefoil (Dasiphora fruticosa)
Description: Shrubby Cinquefoil is a hardy shrub found in fens and wet prairies. It has small, yellow, five-petaled flowers that bloom throughout the summer, along with fine, pinnate leaves.
How to Identify: Its bright yellow flowers and small, divided leaves make it distinctive, often growing in dense clusters in wet habitats.
CC-10: This species is highly adapted to specific wetland conditions and struggles in areas that have been disturbed, making it a good indicator of undisturbed environments.
Ohio Goldenrod (Solidago ohioensis)
Description: Ohio Goldenrod is a tall plant with bright yellow clusters of small flowers, typically found in fens and wet prairies. It grows in clumps and can reach up to 3 feet tall.
How to Identify: Its tall stalks with dense clusters of yellow flowers are unmistakable, especially in wet, sunny areas.
CC-9: Ohio Goldenrod requires specific wetland conditions and alkaline soils, which are often disturbed by development, making it less common in degraded habitats.
Natural History Note
Moonseed (Menispermum canadense) is a native North American vine known for its twining growth habit, allowing it to climb and spread along trees and shrubs. One distinctive feature is its large, heart-shaped leaves, which are “profoliate,” meaning the stem appears to pierce through the leaf. This gives the vine a unique appearance. It also produces dark purple, grape-like berries, but unlike grapes, moonseed berries are highly toxic. The vine is named for its crescent-shaped seeds, which are a key identification feature. Moonseed is often found in shady, wooded areas where it can climb and twine freely.