Name:
Abies magnifica var. magnifica - Abies magnifica var. shastensis Forest Alliance
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This alliance comprises closed forests dominated by <i>Abies magnifica var. magnifica</i> or <i>Abies magnifica var. shastensis</i>, with one to several other conifers in the overstory. Other trees in the canopy (typically not dominant or codominant) may include <i>Abies amabilis, Abies lowiana, Abies lasiocarpa, Abies procera, Pinus albicaulis, Pinus contorta var. murrayana, Pinus jeffreyi, Pinus lambertiana, Pinus monticola</i>, and <i>Tsuga mertensiana</i>. Often the understories have only a few shrubs and almost no herbaceous plants, but those in more maritime climates or near water sources are more diverse. When present, the shrub layer is usually composed of ericaceous or, less commonly, cold-deciduous species. Shrubs may include <i>Arctostaphylos nevadensis, Arnica cordifolia, Chrysolepis sempervirens, Leucothoe davisiae, Linnaea borealis, Mahonia nervosa, Quercus sadleriana, Quercus vacciniifolia, Rhododendron macrophyllum, Rosa gymnocarpa, Rubus lasiococcus, Symphoricarpos mollis, Vaccinium membranaceum, Vaccinium membranaceum</i>, and <i>Vaccinium scoparium</i>. The herbaceous layer is generally dominated by shade-tolerant forbs, ferns, and graminoids, including <i>Achlys triphylla, Chimaphila umbellata, Clintonia uniflora, Cornus canadensis, Linnaea borealis, Lupinus albifrons, Orthilia secunda, Penstemon gracilentus, Penstemon gracilis, Polystichum munitum</i>, and <i>Pteridium aquilinum</i>. <i>Blechnum spicant, Pyrola picta, Tiarella trifoliata var. laciniata</i>, and <i>Xerophyllum tenax</i> are other common herbaceous associates. This alliance occurs from the western slope of the Oregon Cascades near the Rogue-Umpqua divide, south through the Klamath-Siskiyou mountains region to the northern California Coast Ranges, into the northern Sierra Nevada. The alliance is extensive at upper montane and lower subalpine elevations throughout the mountains of northern California where the winter snows are deep. Landforms include raised stream benches, terraces, slopes, ridges. The climate is cool and wet with annual precipitation totals of 90-150 cm, and deep (2-5 m) snow accumulations. Summers are usually warm and dry, and soil moisture is dependent upon late-lying snowpacks. Precipitation decreases eastward, especially east of the Cascade Crest. Parent materials and soils are highly variable and include ultramafics.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:38839-{40B10E0B-17B8-4BCA-88D8-DBDB2F15D3D1}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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