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Thuja plicata / Gymnocarpium dryopteris Forest | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Thuja plicata / Gymnocarpium dryopteris Forest
Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description: This Thuja plicata forest association is known from the northern Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, northern Idaho and northwestern Montana. It represents one of the driest Thuja plicata riparian communities, and the driest Thuja type to have a fern layer. It occurs at elevations ranging from 975 to 1370 m (3200-4500 feet). Typical locations include slopes or benches along major mountain streams. Slopes are moderate to steep, and stands are generally located on mid to lower slopes. Parent materials are usually quartzite, sandstone, or schist, often mixed or overlain with volcanic ash. Soils are gravelly loams to silty clay loam to silt. Stands are subirrigated yet well-drained. Duff layers average 8 cm in depth. Late seral stands have closed canopies and are dominated by Thuja plicata. Stands not in a late seral stage are more heterogeneous, with a mix of conifers in addition to Thuja. Seral species persisting in these stands include Abies grandis as the most abundant and common. Others include Tsuga heterophylla, Picea engelmannii (or Picea engelmannii X glauca), Pinus monticola, Larix occidentalis, and Pseudotsuga menziesii. The shrub layer is typically limited to 10-20% total cover. Highly constant species include Acer glabrum, Lonicera utahensis, Linnaea borealis, Rubus parviflorus, and Taxus brevifolia. The herbaceous layer has mostly ferns and forb species with few to no grasses. Gymnocarpium dryopteris is diagnostic for this type, with at least 1% cover, but is often much more abundant. Athyrium filix-femina or Adiantum pedatum are often present, but with low cover or only on moist microsites. Other highly constant mesic forbs include Clintonia uniflora, Tiarella trifoliata, Coptis occidentalis, Osmorhiza berteroi, Prosartes hookeri (= Disporum hookeri), Aralia nudicaulis, and Maianthemum stellatum. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.23746.THUJAPLICATAGYM
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 17-Nov-2014
      Names:   Translated: Western Red-cedar / Northern Oak Fern Forest
  UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687029 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL000476
  Scientific: Thuja plicata / Gymnocarpium dryopteris Forest
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(undetermined) Thuja plicata / Gymnocarpium dryopteris Forest