Wetland vegetation may become established but are usually dominated by annuals. Any surface water present is temporary or seasonal and only during the growing season in the spring. Wet meadows often form a transition zone between aquatic communities and uplands with soils that are often saturated and mucky. BOG OR FEN Bogs are found on saturated, acid peat soils that are low in nutrients. They support low shrubs, herbs and a few tree species on a mat of sphagnum moss.
Some bogs are totally overgrown and some consist of open water surrounded by floating vegetation.
Acid-tolerant plants found in and around bogs include woody plants such as labrador tea, poison sumac, tamarack, and black spruce. Many species of orchids prefer bog habitats, as do insect-eating sundews and pitcher plants. Bogs are usually only found in the northern part of Michigan. Fens are similar to bogs except that the soils are more alkaline because they result from water passing through calcareous deposits. Fens have a higher plant diversity than bogs due to higher nutrient levels.