Name:
Tsuga mertensiana - Abies amabilis Swamp Woodland Alliance
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This alliance consists of communities that are typically mixed forests with several conifers in the overstory often dominated by <i>Tsuga mertensiana</i> and/or <i>Abies amabilis</i>. Additional tree species include <i>Callitropsis nootkatensis, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Thuja plicata</i> and <i>Tsuga heterophylla</i>. The shrub layer is moderately dense and is dominated by <i>Acer circinatum, Menziesia ferruginea, Oplopanax horridus, Ribes bracteosum, Rubus parviflorus, Rubus pedatus, Rubus spectabilis, Vaccinium deliciosum, Vaccinium membranaceum</i>, and/or <i>Vaccinium ovalifolium</i>. The sparse herbaceous layer is dominated by shade-tolerant forbs and ferns, such as <i>Athyrium filix-femina, Blechnum spicant, Clintonia uniflora, Gymnocarpium dryopteris, Streptopus lanceolatus var. curvipes</i>, and <i>Tiarella trifoliata var. unifoliata</i>. Vegetation within this alliance occurs in cold, snowy subalpine environments of high coastal mountains. It has been reported from Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, but probably also occurs northward. It occurs from 760-1500 m in elevation, primarily west of the Cascade crest where maritime climate influence is strong and deep winter snowpacks are typical. In the Olympic Mountains, this alliance occurs from 300-1200 m in elevation, reaching lowest elevations on the moist windward slope. Precipitation ranges from 150-400 cm annually, falling largely as snow, and snowpacks usually linger into June or later. These forests typically occur in subalpine habitats near the ecotone with subalpine parklands. Sites are cold, poorly drained and saturated because of shallow subirrigation, seeps, springs or small streams. Stands are found on gentle to steep, lower slopes, toeslopes, in ravines on terraces along streams, in depressions, around edges of lakes and valley bottoms. Substrates are moderately deep soils derived from colluvium, alpine till, glacial outwash, with volcanic ash overlaying granite. These soils are acidic, coarse-textured with a substantial organic component because of high moisture and low temperatures.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:38980-{EC2870D7-D64F-4630-9A46-1DE64FEF0C9B}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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