Multorpor Fen - July 2023
This fragile wetland lies right outside of Government Camp on Mt. Hood and is protected by the Nature Conservancy and US Forest Service. I went out here last weekend with the Native Plant Society of Oregon - Portland chapter and saw so many amazing obligate wetland species including sphagnum moss, sundews, bog orchids, swamp cranberry, and many more. Described in my Darlingtonia Nature Preserve post, fens are special wetlands that can take thousands of years to develop and are fed primarily by groundwater inputs. This fen is unique because it was also fed by runoff snowmelt from Multorpor mountain. I’ve never seen a habitat quite like this one and it was very fun to study! Here are some of the unique plants from this area (3800’).
Corallorhiza mertensiana
Corallorhiza mertensiana
Rhododendron marcophyllum
Rhododendron marcophyllum
Drosera rotundifolia
Drosera rotundifolia
Drosera rotundifolia
Drosera rotundifolia
Platanthera stricta
Platanthera stricta
Corallorhiza mertensia f. albolabia
Arctostaphylos nevadensis
Arctostaphylos nevadensis
Arctostaphylos nevadensis
Neottia cordata
Neottia cordata
Neottia banksiana
Neottia banksiana
Cornus unalaschkensis
Ribes bracteosum
