Fenowy

Fenowy is an adjective used in Polish to describe things connected with a fen, a type of wetland formed mainly by groundwater input. In ecological and geographical literature, fenowy refers to the habitats, vegetation, and processes typical of fens, distinguishing them from other wetlands such as bogs or marshes. The term is most commonly found in Polish discussions of landscape ecology, hydrology, and botany.

Ecologically, fen soils are usually waterlogged and rich in minerals, with pH ranging from neutral to alkaline. They are fed by mineral-rich groundwater rather than by precipitation alone. This creates conditions favorable to a characteristic plant community, including diverse sedges (Carex species), grasses and rushes, and often willows or alders along the margins. Fen vegetation is typically less acidic and supports a different set of species than bog habitats, where Sphagnum-dominated peat and acidic conditions prevail. Fens can host distinct fen meadows and to some extent fen forests, depending on hydrology and nutrient inputs.

Human pressures on fenowy habitats include drainage for agriculture, peat extraction, and nutrient enrichment from fertilizers, which can alter hydrology, pH, and species composition. Restoration and conservation efforts focus on rewetting, maintaining groundwater flow, and protecting hydrological connections to preserve the unique plant communities and biodiversity of fen ecosystems.

See also fen, bog, torfowisko, and wetland conservation.