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Thuja plicata / Athyrium filix-femina Forest | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Thuja plicata / Athyrium filix-femina Forest Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: This small-patch, hygric (damp) to hydric (wet) community is associated with the inland penetration of a Pacific maritime climatic regime, occurring in the east Cascades and northeastern Washington, east into northern Idaho and northwestern Montana. This type ranges in elevation from 460 to 1430 m (1500-4700 feet). The primary environmental driver is abundant water throughout the growing season; standing water is often present early in the growing season, and water tables are high throughout the year. This is typically a streamside stringer, around seeps, where toeslopes intercept the water table, and some of the most extensive examples are associated with gentle slopes (<20 % inclination) with perched water tables. The stands are often sheltered in valley bottoms. Sites often have considerable microsite variation due to hummocking, and this can be reflected in the within-stand vegetation patterning. Soils are derived primarily from alluvium of various geologic origins. With textures ranging from loamy sands to silt loams and often having an appreciable gravel content, soils are very permeable. The tree canopy is highly variable in cover with dense old-growth Thuja-dominated stands approaching 100% canopy cover and other sites that perhaps have experienced wind throw having less than 50% cover. Thuja plicata dominates both the upper canopy and the reproductive layers; Tsuga heterophylla, Abies grandis and Picea engelmannii are consistent upper canopy components; only Tsuga has appreciable cover in the reproductive layers. In a modal expression of the type a nearly continuous layer of Athyrium filix-femina dominates the undergrowth, concealing a rich diversity of forbs. Some sites have appreciable cover of tall shrubs including Taxus brevifolia, Alnus viridis ssp. sinuata, and Acer glabrum. Incidental individuals or small patches of Oplopanax horridus may be found. The short and dwarf-shrub layers are relatively inconspicuous, a combined cover seldom exceeding 10%. Some consistently present hygric- to hydric-indicating forbs include Senecio triangularis, Trautvetteria caroliniensis, Streptopus amplexifolius, Gymnocarpium dryopteris, Viola glabella, Aconitum columbianum, and Circaea alpina; some have considered the presence of the first four of these forbs to be indicative of the type when the cover of Athyrium is less than 1%.  Accession Code: VB.CC.18526.THUJAPLICATAATH Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 17-Nov-2014
	status: accepted Community's Parent: Thuja plicata Seasonally Flooded Forest Alliance This Community's Level: Association This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   Translated: Western Red-cedar / Lady Fern Forest   Code: CEGL000473   Scientific: Thuja plicata / Athyrium filix-femina Forest   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683293 NatureServe Explorer (convergence) and Synonyms: (undetermined) Thuja plicata / Athyrium filix-femina Forest