Name:
Alnus incana / Athyrium filix-femina Shrubland
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This association is a locally common association found at low elevations from about 701 to 2074 m (2300-6800 feet), in cool and moist, often maritime-influenced, regions of Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and adjacent non-coastal areas. This association often occurs on floodplains, streambanks, and overflow channels of perennial streams that vary in gradient and valley width. These sites usually have soil ranging from silty loam to sandy-gravelly loam over cobble alluvium. The association is also sometimes sampled in wetlands with organic loam soils on the margins of springs, oxbows, lakes, and sediment-filled beaver ponds. Alnus incana forms an open to partially closed canopy, averaging 5-6.5 m tall, typically having 30-60% cover. Picea engelmannii, or Thuja plicata in maritime-influenced areas, occur with moderate constancy, possibly indicating successional pathways for this type. Other shrubs with high constancy, but mostly low cover, include Cornus sericea, Ribes lacustre, Ribes hudsonianum, Rubus parviflorus, and Symphoricarpos albus. Athyrium filix-femina with 20-75% cover, sometimes with lesser amounts of Gymnocarpium dryopteris, forms a lush fern layer, up to 1.0 m tall. Cinna latifolia up to about 20% cover, with less abundant Carex deweyana, Carex disperma, Glyceria striata, and Scirpus microcarpus, are the most common graminoids. Tall forbs, such as Maianthemum stellatum, Mertensia paniculata, Senecio triangularis, and Streptopus amplexifolius, frequently occur with low cover, and a low-forb ground layer (composed of species such as Boykinia major, Circaea alpina, Claytonia cordifolia, Equisetum arvense, Mitella pentandra, and Trautvetteria caroliniensis) also exists.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.19114.ALNUSINCANAATHY
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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