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Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Oplopanax horridus Swamp Forest | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Oplopanax horridus Swamp Forest
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: This minor coniferous forest association occurs in drainages and seeps at mid-elevations in mountain ranges of northwestern Montana and northern Idaho. Elevations range from 1200-1500 m. Stands tend to be small (&lt;8 ha) and are restricted to low-lying areas with high water tables most of the year, such as along streams, springs and seeps. Sites are seasonally flooded with surface water present for extended periods during the growing season, and tree regeneration is dominated by <i>Abies lasiocarpa</i>. This association often forms long narrow stands within floodplains. Soils are variable, but generally acidic with a deep organic layer. Late-seral stands are characterized by a moderately dense to dense, sometimes giant (&gt;50 m tall) tree canopy codominated by <i>Abies lasiocarpa</i> and <i>Picea engelmannii</i> or <i>Picea glauca</i>. Minor tree associates include <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii, Larix occidentalis</i>, and <i>Pinus monticola</i>. <i>Oplopanax horridus</i> and <i>Taxus brevifolia</i> dominate the moderately dense to dense tall-shrub layer; at least 5% cover of <i>Oplopanax horridus</i> is considered diagnostic for the association. Other common shrub associates include <i>Menziesia ferruginea, Rubus parviflorus, Symphoricarpos albus</i>, and <i>Vaccinium</i> spp. <i>Linnaea borealis</i> may also have high cover, and <i>Abies lasiocarpa</i> dominates the tree regeneration. The herbaceous layer is abundant, diverse, and forb-dominated, including species such as <i>Clintonia uniflora, Maianthemum stellatum, Streptopus amplexifolius, Tiarella trifoliata</i>, and the ferns <i>Athyrium filix-femina</i> and <i>Gymnocarpium dryopteris</i>. Diagnostic of this association is the closed coniferous tree canopy codominated by <i>Abies lasiocarpa</i> with an <i>Oplopanax horridus</i>-dominated tall-shrub layer. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:29231-{B90F04BF-7635-4026-8FFB-68E86CE249F6}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 4
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 16-Mar-2004 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687106 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL000322
  Translated: Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce / Devil's-club Swamp Forest
  Scientific: Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Oplopanax horridus Swamp Forest
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(similar) Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Oplopanax horridus Forest
(similar) CEGL000322
(similar) Abies lasiocarpa / Oplopanax horridus Forest