Magnolia bog
A magnolia bog is a rare form of wetland ecosystem found primarily in the Washington metropolitan area in the United States. Officially named in the early 1900s by ecologist Waldo Lee McAtee, magnolia bogs get their name from the abundance of sweetbay magnolias that grow within them.
Once common, these bogs have begun to disappear due to the high levels of development in their natural area. Currently, it is believed that there are less than two dozen remaining magnolia bogs worldwide. Largely due to this scarcity, a large number of the species found in magnolia bogs are rare, threatened, or endangered.
Location
Magnolia bogs are not actual bogs but are instead seeps, which form when uphill groundwater hits a layer of clay, causing it to “seep” out of the ground. Magnolia bogs are primarily found in the Washington metropolitan area. They can be found along a fall line spanning from Prince George's County, MD to Fredericksburg, VA. Most bogs are very small, usually only an acre or less in size.Suitland Bog is located in Suitland, MD. It has been affected by the introduction of non-native pitcher plants, as well as construction of a sewer line and nearby housing developments. It is one of the few remaining magnolia bogs.