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Tsuga mertensiana - Pinus contorta var. murrayana Sierran Forest Alliance | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Tsuga mertensiana - Pinus contorta var. murrayana Sierran Forest Alliance
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: This alliance consists of forests where <i>Tsuga mertensiana</i> is dominant or codominant in the tree canopy with <i>Pinus albicaulis, Pinus contorta var. murrayana</i>, or <i>Pinus monticola</i>. Trees are &lt;40 m in height, and the canopy is intermittent to continuous. The shrub and herbaceous layers are sparse to abundant. Many stands have few shrubs or herbs. Trees are shade-tolerant, creating stable, all-aged stands. In addition, <i>Tsuga mertensiana</i> can pioneer on moraines and glaciated surfaces and grow as individuals or in groves. <i>Tsuga mertensiana</i> occurs in the subalpine in the mountains of central and northern California, where it typically forms stands above lake margins and north-facing aspects with late-lasting. It is a slow-growing conifer that attains a height of 30 m and an age of 250 years. Established seedlings grow slowly in partial shade and are drought-intolerant. All stages of the trees can tolerate heavy snow packs. Because <i>Tsuga mertensiana</i> is shallow-rooted, it is very susceptible to windthrow. Plants layer forming krummholz on exposed ridges at timberline. This alliance is found in the Sierra Nevada of California north into the southern Cascades, and west into the Klamath Mountains. <i>Tsuga mertensiana</i> is found as individuals or small, isolated groves at its southern limit near Triple Divide Peak. Stands are common at subalpine elevations on glaciated slopes leading up to the highest mountaintops and ridges. Stands also occur east of the Sierra Crest in the Mammoth region. It is common and extensive at subalpine elevations on all the major volcanic peaks in the southern Cascades. Habitats are subalpine stream benches, slopes, most extensive on north-facing aspects and lake margins. Elevation ranges from 1900-2700 m. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:38840-{DEE1F5B6-C747-4E93-B3BB-F28F5173AEDB}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 18-Dec-2014 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899678 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: A3620
  Translated: Mountain Hemlock - Sierra Lodgepole Pine Sierran Forest Alliance
  Common: Sierra-Cascade Mountain Hemlock - Lodgepole Pine Forest
  Scientific: Tsuga mertensiana - Pinus contorta var. murrayana Sierran Forest Alliance