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Abies grandis / Athyrium filix-femina Riparian Forest | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Abies grandis / Athyrium filix-femina Riparian Forest
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: This association is found at moderately low to moderately high elevations in the Blue Mountains ecoregion of Oregon, as well as Montana and Washington. The Blue Mountains sites are associated with streambanks and floodplains. V-shaped, moderate- to very high-gradient, narrow valleys are characteristic of this type. Soils are composed of silt loam or silty clay loams over gravels and cobbles. Mean depth to the buried streambed is 25 cm. Spring flooding of these sites is followed the water table retreating 30-60 cm by fall. Rosgen stream reach types of B3 and B4 were identified. <i>Abies grandis</i> dominates the multi-storied tree layer. <i>Picea engelmannii</i> is occasionally abundant as a codominant species. Shrubs are poorly represented in this type with the exception of occasional, well-represented <i>Alnus</i> species: <i>Alnus incana</i> occurs at lower elevations and <i>Alnus viridis ssp. sinuata</i> at higher elevations. <i>Athyrium filix-femina</i> is well-represented to abundant with mean coverage of 53%. A diverse group of forbs and grasses are supported on these wet sites. These include <i>Mitella pentandra, Streptopus amplexifolius, Circaea alpina, Rudbeckia occidentalis, Tiarella trifoliata var. unifoliata, Claytonia cordifolia, Urtica dioica, Saxifraga odontoloma, Adenocaulon bicolor, Maianthemum stellatum, Cinna latifolia</i>, and <i>Bromus vulgaris</i>. Average height of the shrub overstory is 4.6 m. Average height of the shrub understory is 3.1 m. Average height of the herbaceous layer is 31 cm. Average herbaceous biomass is 1293 lbs/acre, ranging from 147-2067 lbs/acre. This association is probably stable and self-perpetuating in species composition with the absence of fire. Moderate fires will kill <i>Abies grandis</i>, and sites may subsequently be dominated by <i>Alnus incana</i> associations until <i>Abies grandis</i> becomes re-established on the site. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:29179-{3077F0A0-5151-4EF6-A201-EDB822384139}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 05-Jul-2018 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687553 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL000270
  Translated: Grand Fir / Common Ladyfern Riparian Forest
  Scientific: Abies grandis / Athyrium filix-femina Riparian Forest
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(similar) CEGL000270
(similar) Abies grandis / Athyrium filix-femina Forest
(similar) Abies grandis / Athyrium filix-femina Forest