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Abies lowiana - Chamaecyparis lawsoniana - Pseudotsuga menziesii / (Mahonia nervosa) / Achlys triphylla Forest | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Abies lowiana - Chamaecyparis lawsoniana - Pseudotsuga menziesii / (Mahonia nervosa) / Achlys triphylla Forest
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: This giant coniferous forest association is codominated by <i>Abies lowiana, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana</i>, and <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i>. Stands are found on valley bottoms and along stream courses in southwestern Oregon and adjacent northern California. Average elevation is 1280 m. These forests are usually found on moist, moderately developed, well-drained colluvial soils with the coarsest texture of any <i>Chamaecyparis lawsoniana</i> association. These soils are usually derived from metavolcanics or granitics which limits their fertility and water holding capacity. For these reasons canopy closure averages only 75%. The canopy is dominated by <i>Abies lowiana</i> (5% cover),<i>Chamaecyparis lawsoniana</i> (17% cover), and <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i> (45% cover), with some individuals of <i>Abies magnifica, Taxus brevifolia, Picea breweriana</i>, and/or <i>Callitropsis nootkatensis</i> sometimes present. The shrub stratum averages 38% cover, but can be quite variable. Younger stands tend to be dense while mature stands have diffuse shrub layers only in major canopy openings. <i>Mahonia nervosa</i> is present in all stands, but only attains an average of 3-5% cover. The herbaceous layer tends to be species rich, attaining its maximum cover in mature stands. <i>Achlys triphylla</i> has a mean cover value of 11%, while up to 16 other species of herb may also be present. These forests are very old - usually around 400 years of age. Mistletoe can be a problem with the <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i>, and the <i>Chamaecyparis lawsoniana</i> is gravely threatened by <i>Phytophthora</i>, an introduced root pathogen. The clear dominance of <i>Achlys triphylla</i> in the herb layer differentiates this association from other <i>Chamaecyparis lawsoniana</i> associations. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:28950-{62CD3ACD-6224-4255-85B7-587C8526E30F}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 01-Feb-1994 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686608 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL000041
  Translated: Sierra White Fir - Port Orford-cedar - Douglas-fir / (Cascade Barberry) / Sweet After Death Forest
  Scientific: Abies lowiana - Chamaecyparis lawsoniana - Pseudotsuga menziesii / (Mahonia nervosa) / Achlys triphylla Forest
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(similar) Abies concolor - Chamaecyparis lawsoniana - Pseudotsuga menziesii / (Mahonia nervosa) / Achlys triphylla Forest
(similar) CEGL000041
(similar) Abies concolor - Chamaecyparis lawsoniana - Pseudotsuga menziesii / (Mahonia nervosa) / Achlys triphylla Forest