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Picea sitchensis Giant Forest Alliance | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Picea sitchensis Giant Forest Alliance Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: This giant conifer forest alliance is found within the maritime climate-influenced region of the Pacific Northwest, from northern California to southern Alaska, usually within 50 km of tidewater and below 1000 m in elevation. Stands typically occur on coastal terraces, but extend up river valleys and seaward slopes of coastal mountains. Stands occur on moderate to steep slopes with shallow to moderately deep soils and on stabilized coastal dunes with sandy soils. Forests included of this alliance are dominated by Picea sitchensis, but Tsuga heterophylla and Pseudotsuga menziesii may codominate the canopy, especially at the most inland sites. Other common trees include Thuja plicata, Chamaecyparis nootkatensis in northern stands, Abies grandis, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, or Sequoia sempervirens in southern stands, and Pinus contorta on semi-stabilized dunes along the coast of Oregon and northern California. Broad-leaved trees include the shade-tolerant Acer macrophyllum, which may form a sparse subcanopy in older stands, and the seral species Alnus rubra and Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa in disturbed stands. An ericaceous tall-shrub layer is common, with Vaccinium parvifolium or Menziesia ferruginea abundant at moist sites, and Rhododendron macrophyllum, Vaccinium ovatum, or Gaultheria shallon more important at drier sites. Rubus spectabilis is common and persistent following disturbance, and the low-shrub Oplopanax horridus is common at very wet sites. The herbaceous layer is dominated by mesic, shade-tolerant ferns and forbs such as Polystichum munitum, Oxalis oregana, Maianthemum dilatatum, Blechnum spicant, and Athyrium filix-femina. Mosses and lichens are abundant on logs, snags, trees, or the ground surface. Diagnostic of this forest alliance is the presence of a giant upper tree canopy (>50 m tall) that is dominated by Picea sitchensis.  Accession Code: VB.CC.18035.PICEASITCHENSIS Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 01-May-2019
	status: accepted This Community's Level: Alliance This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   Scientific: Picea sitchensis Giant Forest Alliance   Translated: Sitka Spruce Giant Forest Alliance   UID: HIGHER_CLASS_UNIT.2.125916 NatureServe Explorer   Code: A.105