Name:
Sequoiadendron giganteum Forest
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
These giant forests occur in discrete groves along the western slope of the central and southern Sierra Nevada in California. Most of the 75 identified groves occur south of Kings River. Elevation and aspect varies with latitude with northern stands found primarily between 1370 and 1980 m on southern aspects, and southern stands found between 1730 and 2450 m mostly on northern aspects. Cold temperatures limit the extent at high elevations, and lack of soil moisture limits the extent groves at lower elevations. Sites are flat to gently sloping. Soils are shallow to deep, well-drained, sandy loams with perennial soil moisture often derived from granitic rocks. These montane forests have a moderately dense to dense evergreen, needle-leaved tree canopy characterized by emergent individuals of <i>Sequoiadendron giganteum</i> (50-95 m tall) as the sole or dominant tree, or with mixed conifers interspersed forming a subcanopy. Groves are often dominated by <i>Abies concolor</i> with emergent individuals of <i>Sequoiadendron giganteum</i>, though at lower elevations <i>Calocedrus decurrens (= Libocedrus decurrens)</i> may dominate, and at higher elevations <i>Abies magnifica</i> may dominate. Other tree species may include <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinus jeffreyi, Pinus contorta var. murrayana, Pinus ponderosa, Pinus lambertiana</i>, and the broad-leaved tree <i>Quercus kelloggii</i>. The shrub layer is sparse to moderately dense and may include <i>Chrysolepis sempervirens (= Castanopsis sempervirens), Chamaebatia foliolosa, Ceanothus cordulatus, Ceanothus parvifolius, Ceanothus integerrimus, Ceanothus velutinus, Arctostaphylos patula, Rhododendron occidentale, Ribes</i> spp., <i>Rosa</i> spp., and <i>Rubus</i> spp. The herbaceous layer is sparse to moderately dense. Stand structure and composition varies with age of stand (some over 3000 years), elevation, latitude, exposure, soil moisture, and time since most recent fire or disturbance. This Sierra Nevadan association is characterized by the dominance of <i>Sequoiadendron giganteum</i> in the tree canopy although stands may intergrade with the typical mixed conifer forest of the region.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.31147.CEGL003108
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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