Despite the moist climate most of the bogs in Hordaland are small. This is because of the uneven terrain in western Norway which causes the water to run off quickly. But, on Herlandsnesjane, the flat landscape has given good conditions for the growth of bogs. A pine forest grows here also, along the outer edge of the bogs. This alternation between forest and vast expanses of bog distinguishes this landscape.
The wettest portion lies along the edge of the tarns and the many small ponds, that decrease in size as they gradually get overgrown with peat. Slowly but surely, this overgrowth will sometime in the future result in the total disappearance of the small tarns that today are important for a number of plants and animals.
The bog vegetation is varied, according to how much nutrient the peat contains. Parts of the bogs get most of their nutrients from rainwater - the peat is then acidic and lacking in important minerals. Such peat is visible mostly as high tufts. Other places, the peat receives an abundance of nutrients from the groundwater. Here, this gives good growth conditions for several demanding species, such as broad-leaved cottongrass and flea sedge. Bog asphodel always grows in places where the peat is solid. For those who want to walk out on the bogs without the risk of being left standing with half of your boot covered in mire, it can be wise to follow the bog asphodel.
A long list of common bog plants are to be found on Herlandsnesjane. There are most of those that prefer to grow in coastal areas, such as bayberry, bog asphodel and cross-leaved heath. Livid sedge and moor rush are among the rare bog plants that are found here.
