A type of wetland characterized by alkaline or neutral water conditions and fed primarily by groundwater, supporting distinctive plant communities including sedges, grasses, and wildflowers. Fens differ from bogs in their water chemistry and nutrient levels.
From Old English 'fenn,' meaning marsh or swamp, related to similar words in other Germanic languages. The specific ecological distinction between fens and other wetland types was developed by botanists and ecologists in the 20th century.
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