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Sequoiadendron giganteum Forest Alliance | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Sequoiadendron giganteum Forest Alliance Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: This forest alliance occurs along the western slope of California's Sierra Nevada. Giant sequoias are limited by temperature in the upper elevations, and by deficient soil moisture at lower elevations. Elevations typically range from 1370-2130 m. Groves in the northern portion of the range tend to occur on southern aspects; those in the southern portion tend to occur on northern aspects. Most groves occur on granitic-based residual soils, alluvium or glacial outwash. Sequoias grow best in deep, well-drained, sandy loams with perennial soil moisture. Vigorous individuals can thrive in shallow, rocky soils if underground water is available. Soil moisture seems to be the limiting factor in the extent of a grove or stand of sequoias. Vegetation included in this forest alliance is characterized by the presence of Sequoiadendron giganteum. This alliance intergrades with the typical mixed conifer forest of the region, and the subcanopy beneath the sequoias is composed of those species. Groves are often dominated by Abies concolor, with emergent individuals of Sequoiadendron giganteum, though at lower elevations Calocedrus decurrens (= Libocedrus decurrens) may dominate, and at higher elevations Abies magnifica may dominate. Other tree species from the mixed conifer forest include Quercus kelloggii, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinus jeffreyi, Pinus contorta var. murrayana, Pinus ponderosa, and Pinus lambertiana. Shrubs may be infrequent to common and include Chrysolepis sempervirens (= Castanopsis sempervirens), Chamaebatia foliolosa, Ceanothus spp., Arctostaphylos patula, Rhododendron occidentale, Ribes spp., Rosa spp., and Rubus spp. Stand structure and composition vary considerably with elevation, latitude, exposure, soil moisture, and time since most recent fire or disturbance. Diagnostic of this forest alliance is the presence of large Sequoiadendron giganteum in the upper tree canopy  Accession Code: VB.CC.21485.SEQUOIADENDRONG 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: Sequoiadendron giganteum Forest Alliance   Translated: Giant Sequoia Forest Alliance   UID: HIGHER_CLASS_UNIT.2.126621 NatureServe Explorer   Code: A.101