| Vegetation: |
The core of the site is a floristically rich coniferous and mixed swamp and fen forest complex over peat of variable depth occupying the bulk of the site east of Albion Road. Black Spruce and Larch are abundant, with Red Maple, Black Ash, White Elm and Silver Maple being locally important. A substantial area of mature White Cedar occupies an area east of Albion Road. Upwelling of groundwater is significant here.
The most significant area is the Valerian Fen, a peatland glade complex at the northeast corner of the site found to support a number of exceptional floristic features.
A second glade fen, smaller and more disturbed than the Valarian fen, is located south of mature White Cedar stand in the southwestern corner of the site. The core area of the wetland is surrounded by a complex of deciduous and mixed swamp forests of varying composition (Red Maple, White Birch, White Cedar, Balsam Fir, Black Spruce, Larch, Black Ash). This woodland has experienced varying degrees of disturbance from logging and agricultural activity. Edges, clearing and flooded areas are typically choked with dense deciduous swamp thicket (Speckled Alder, Black Buckthorn, various willows and Red-osier Dogwood). [Brunton 1992]
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| Representation: |
The treed fen portion of the wetland is centered on the glade complex, best expressed in the northern portion of the site, and is apparently unique in the site district. The associated peatland forests including the mature White Cedar stand offer excellent representation of those vegetation-landform complexes. In addition, the floristic richness (if not the fauna) compares well with other highly ranked peatlands in the site district (e.g. Alfred Bog and Mer Bleue). Accordingly, despite the long history of disturbance to much of site (especially in the peripheral wetland areas), the wetland warrants designation at a provincial level of significance. [Brunton 1992]
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