4. euic, frigid Typic Haplosaprist
(Pywell series)

These soils are found in wet meadows of northern Idaho. Natural vegetation includes willow, black cottonwood, thinleaf alder, narrowleaf cattail, reed canary grass, sedge, and rush with scattered western redcedar and Englemann spruce along meadown edges. The organic matter in this soil is highly decomposed state and has few remaining plant fibers. This advanced stage of decomposition is generally seen in Histosols with fluctuating high water tables, where aerobic degradation can proceed during parts of the year. In contrast to fibrous peat, these soils are often referred to as "muck".

These soils are members of the Pywell series, and many have been cleared, diked, and drained for farming. They are used primarily for production of spring wheat, oats, barley, grass seed, hay, and pasture. Some areas are used for wetland wildlife habitat. For more information about Pywell soils, click here.

(scale is in decimeters)