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A.207 | EcoArt 2002
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Name: A.207 Reference: EcoArt 2002 Description: Vegetation within this alliance occurs in cold, snowy subalpine environments of high coastal mountains. It has been reported from Washington and British Columbia, but probably also occurs northward. It occurs from 760-1220 m in elevation, primarily west of the Cascade crest where maritime climate influence is strong and deep winter snowpacks are typical. Precipitation ranges from 150-400 cm annually, falling largely as snow, and snowpacks usually linger into June or later. These forests typically occur in subalpine habitats near the ecotone with subalpine parklands. Sites are cold, poorly drained and saturated because of shallow subirrigation, seeps, springs or small streams. Stands are found on gentle, lower slopes, toeslopes, and valley bottoms with typically eastern and northern aspects. Substrates are moderately deep soils derived from colluvium, alpine till, glacial outwash, with volcanic ash overlaying granite. These soils are acidic, coarse-textured with a substantial organic component because of high moisture and low temperatures. Vegetation included in this forest alliance has a closed tree canopy 20-35 m tall that is dominated by ~Tsuga mertensiana$ and ~Abies amabilis$. Other common trees include ~Tsuga heterophylla$ and ~Chamaecyparis nootkatensis$. The shrub layer is moderately dense and is dominated by ericaceous species such as ~Vaccinium ovalifolium$ and ~Oplopanax horridus$. Other common shrubs include ~Rubus pedatus, Rubus spectabilis, Ribes bracteosum, Menziesia ferruginea$, and ~Vaccinium membranaceum$. The sparse herbaceous layer is dominated by shade-tolerant forbs and ferns, such as ~Tiarella trifoliata var. unifoliata, Clintonia uniflora, Streptopus lanceolatus var. curvipes (= Streptopus roseus), Athyrium filix-femina, Blechnum spicant$, and ~Gymnocarpium dryopteris$. Adjacent stands include forests dominated by ~Tsuga heterophylla$ or ~Pseudotsuga menziesii$ at lower elevations and ~Abies lasiocarpa$ at higher elevations.  Accession Code: VB.CC.1723.A207 Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 17-Mar-2005
	status: accepted Community's Parent: I.A.8.N.g This Community's Level: Alliance This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   Scientific: TSUGA MERTENSIANA - ABIES AMABILIS SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE   Code: A.207   Common: Mountain Hemlock - Pacific Silver Fir Saturated Forest Alliance (convergence) and Synonyms: (undetermined) Tsuga mertensiana - Abies amabilis Saturated Forest Alliance