Name:
Pseudotsuga menziesii - Lithocarpus densiflorus Forest Alliance
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This forest alliance occurs in the maritime-influenced mountains of northern California and southern Oregon. This region has mild winter temperatures, hot summers, and receives winter rain followed by summer drought. Drought stress is ameliorated somewhat by fogs in coastal stands. These forests occur along low- to moderate-elevation (0-1300 m) mountain slopes and valley margins, with an increasing affinity for moist topographic positions away from the coast and southward. These forests are characterized by a tall (50 m), open canopy of Pseudotsuga menziesii. Other coniferous trees that may be present in the upper tree layer include Sequoia sempervirens, Pinus lambertiana, Pinus ponderosa, and Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, depending upon location and stand history. The hardwood subcanopy is dominated by Lithocarpus densiflorus. Other sclerophyllous or broad-leaved cold-deciduous trees. such as Umbellularia californica, Chrysolepis chrysophylla (= Castanopsis chrysophylla), Cornus nuttallii, Arbutus menziesii, Quercus chrysolepis. and Acer macrophyllum. may be present. The needle-leaved evergreen Taxus brevifolia may also be part of the subcanopy, particularly in moist ravines. The tall-shrub layer is usually species-rich, well-developed, and includes species such as Gaultheria shallon, Rhododendron occidentale, Quercus sadleriana, Vaccinium uliginosum, Vaccinium ovatum, Acer circinatum, Symphoricarpos albus, Lonicera hispidula, Toxicodendron diversilobum, and Corylus cornuta var. californica. The herbaceous layer is usually sparse and dominated by shade-tolerant forbs such as Achlys triphylla, Trientalis borealis ssp. latifolia (= Trientalis latifolia), Asarum caudatum, Trillium ovatum, Oxalis oregana, and Maianthemum stellatum. Common graminoids include Festuca occidentalis, Elymus glaucus, Bromus vulgaris, Luzula parviflora, and Xerophyllum tenax. Diagnostic of this forest alliance is an open upper tree canopy dominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii with a sclerophyllous subcanopy of Lithocarpus densiflorus.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.18157.PSEUDOTSUGAMENZ
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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