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Thuja plicata - Chamaecyparis nootkatensis - Tsuga heterophylla / Coptis aspleniifolia / Sphagnum spp. Forest |
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Name: Thuja plicata - Chamaecyparis nootkatensis - Tsuga heterophylla / Coptis aspleniifolia / Sphagnum spp. Forest
Reference:
Description: This stunted bog forest community can be found along the windward and leeward Vancouver Island Ranges and the windward Coast Mountains from the Fraser River valley northward to Portland Canal, from near sea level to approximately 700 m elevation, or lower in the north. It is found on gentle, very poor- to medium-quality valley bottom seepage slopes or depressions. Soils are mainly mineral and very poorly drained. Organic soils are also common.<br><br>The stunted open canopy tends to be dominated at all elevations by <i>Tsuga heterophylla</i> and <i>Tsuga mertensiana</i>, with variable amounts of spike-topped <i>Thuja plicata</i>, and also <i>Chamaecyparis nootkatensis (= Callitropsis nootkatensis)</i> at lower elevations. <i>Thuja plicata</i> is replaced entirely by <i>Chamaecyparis nootkatensis</i> at higher elevations. The structurally complex shrub layer characteristically has all of the tree species, as well as <i>Menziesia ferruginea, Vaccinium ovalifolium (= Vaccinium alaskense)</i>, and <i>Vaccinium parvifolium</i>. Species in the moderately developed and often diverse herb layer include <i>Cornus canadensis, Rubus pedatus, Lysichiton americanus, Blechnum spicant, Listera cordata</i>, and <i>Veratrum viride</i>. The well-developed moss layer includes <i>Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Hylocomium splendens</i>, and <i>Rhizomnium glabrescens</i> on elevated microsites, while <i>Sphagnum girgensohnii</i> is common on level or depressional microsites. This bog forest association, and the wetter, nutritionally poorer bog woodlands, can be located on similar seepage slopes or depressions. However, bog woodlands are differentiated from these bog forests by a very open <i>Pinus contorta var. contorta</i>-dominated scrubby forest with characteristic <i>Sphagnum</i>-bog species such as <i>Kalmia microphylla, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Nephrophyllidium crista-galli (= Fauria crista-galli)</i>, and <i>Trichophorum caespitosum</i>. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.37364.CEGL002779
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 17-Nov-2014 to: 01-May-2019
     
  • status: accepted
  • This Community's Level: association
  • This Community's Children: [none]
Names:   Translated: Western Red-cedar - Alaska-cedar - Western Hemlock / Fernleaf Goldthread / Peatmoss species Forest
  Scientific: Thuja plicata - Chamaecyparis nootkatensis - Tsuga heterophylla / Coptis aspleniifolia / Sphagnum spp. Forest
  Code: CEGL002779
  UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.777943 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo