Name:
Quercus garryana - (Fraxinus latifolia) / Symphoricarpos albus Forest
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This forest association occurs in the southern Puget Lowland of western Washington, the Willamette Valley and the Umpqua Valley of western Oregon, at low elevations. Sites occupied are the drier portions of relatively level riparian areas or transition zones surrounding wetlands within landscapes that currently or formerly supported grasslands (prairies). These may occasionally be flooded in the winter or early spring, but during most years would not be flooded with surface water. They are, however, strongly influenced by subsurface water associated with adjacent wetlands or streams. In pre-European settlement times, they were likely influenced by anthropogenic fires from adjacent prairies, but the frequency and severity of such fires are unknown. This deciduous broad-leaved forest, or less commonly woodland, is dominated by Quercus garryana, that infrequently has significant amounts of conifer in the canopy or subcanopy as well, mostly Pseudotsuga menziesii (mean 10% cover when present). Fraxinus latifolia is usually present (52% of plots in Washington, more common in Oregon), occasionally codominant, in the canopy or the subcanopy. The understory is dominated by deciduous shrubs, mostly Symphoricarpos albus 0.6-1.4 m tall (mean 52% cover), with significant amounts of the taller Amelanchier alnifolia and Oemleria cerasiformis almost always prominent. Other understory species usually present include the short-shrub Mahonia aquifolium, the fern Polystichum munitum, and the forb Galium aparine. One or more of the following forbs is usually present: Maianthemum stellatum, Circaea alpina, Claytonia sibirica, Trillium parviflorum, Nemophila parviflora, or Viola glabella. This association is distinguished from similar associations by its riparian or wetland setting, by >10% cover of Symphoricarpos albus, along with combined cover of >1% for Polystichum munitum, Circaea alpina, Maianthemum stellatum, and Claytonia sibirica, or Fraxinus latifolia present in the canopy; and <25% cover of Pseudotsuga menziesii.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.21148.QUERCUSGARRYANA
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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