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Tsuga heterophylla - Thuja plicata - Callitropsis nootkatensis / Gaultheria shallon / Blechnum spicant Forest | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Tsuga heterophylla - Thuja plicata - Callitropsis nootkatensis / Gaultheria shallon / Blechnum spicant Forest
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: Located within a hypermaritime climate along the windward outer coast from sea level to 600 m elevation, this community follows the mainland British Columbia coast from beyond the tip of northern Vancouver Island northwest to Portland Canal and into the Queen Charlotte Islands. It can be found on essentially all slope positions from lower to upper slopes and crests. Soils range from freely or imperfectly drained organic material to moderately poorly drained mineral soils with low oxygen (reducing) conditions, to peaty organics on coastal lowlands. A relatively open canopy, visually busy structural complexity, and high floristic diversity are characteristic of this community. <i>Thuja plicata</i> (average 38% canopy cover) with variable lesser amounts of <i>Callitropsis nootkatensis</i> (average 25% canopy cover) and <i>Pinus contorta var. contorta</i> tend to dominate the upper strata of the moderately open 20- to 25-m tall canopy. Prevalent shrub-layer species include <i>Tsuga heterophylla</i> and <i>Tsuga mertensiana</i>, as well as all the above conifers, <i>Menziesia ferruginea, Vaccinium parvifolium, Vaccinium alaskaense</i>, and <i>Gaultheria shallon</i>. The herb layer includes <i>Cornus canadensis, Maianthemum dilatatum, Listera caurina, Rubus pedatus, Veratrum viride, Streptopus amplexifolius, Linnaea borealis</i>, and even scattered <i>Lysichiton americanus</i>. Characteristic species in the well-developed moss layer include <i>Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Hylocomium splendens, Sphagnum</i> spp., <i>Dicranum majus</i>, and a wide variety of liverworts and lichens. The presence of scattered <i>Pinus contorta var. contorta</i>, as a conspicuous emergent several meters taller than the main canopy layer conifers, is a characteristic of this association (5-10% cover in one-third of the plots). Other distinguishing features include the scrubby structural complexity, high floristic diversity, and the presence of small amounts of <i>Lysichiton americanus</i>. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:31680-{20713700-F5CD-4ED3-BCC4-B93D76D94EE5}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 17-May-2005 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.777931 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL002776
  Translated: Western Hemlock - Western Red-cedar - Alaska-cedar / Salal / Deer Fern Forest
  Scientific: Tsuga heterophylla - Thuja plicata - Callitropsis nootkatensis / Gaultheria shallon / Blechnum spicant Forest
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(similar) Tsuga heterophylla - Thuja plicata - Chamaecyparis nootkatensis / Gaultheria shallon / Blechnum spicant Forest