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Tsuga mertensiana - Abies amabilis Saturated Forest Alliance | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Tsuga mertensiana - Abies amabilis Saturated Forest Alliance Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... 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.18385.TSUGAMERTENSIAN 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: Tsuga mertensiana - Abies amabilis Saturated Forest Alliance   Translated: Mountain Hemlock - Pacific Silver Fir Saturated Forest Alliance   UID: HIGHER_CLASS_UNIT.2.125203 NatureServe Explorer   Code: A.207