Name:
Pseudotsuga menziesii - Tsuga heterophylla / Gaultheria shallon Rainforest Group
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This group includes much of the major coastal mesic to dry lowland forests dominated by evergreen needle-leaved trees of the Pacific Northwest. Overstory canopy is generally dominated by <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i> with <i>Tsuga heterophylla</i> and/or <i>Thuja plicata</i>, but <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i> may simply be present. <i>Acer macrophyllum</i> and <i>Alnus rubra</i> sometimes occur in the subcanopy and, if in the upper canopy, not more than 10% cover. Stands occur on dry well-drained as well as subirrigated soils. Well-drained site understory species typically include <i>Gaultheria shallon, Mahonia nervosa, Rhododendron macrophyllum, Linnaea borealis, Achlys triphylla</i>, and/or <i>Vaccinium ovatum</i>. Intermediate moisture (mesic) locations often have <i>Acer circinatum</i> and <i>Polystichum munitum</i> (especially on rich-nutrient sites) with one or more of the evergreen shrubs. Moist sites are dominated by <i>Polystichum munitum, Oxalis oregana, Rubus spectabilis</i>, and/or <i>Oplopanax horridus</i>. Indicator canopy species include <i>Tsuga heterophylla</i> and <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i> with a lack (or very low cover) of <i>Abies amabilis</i>. Understory indicator species include <i>Polystichum munitum, Achlys triphylla, Gaultheria shallon</i>, and <i>Mahonia nervosa</i>; in other words, stands without <i>Picea sitchensis</i> and understory species more commonly found in greater abundance close to the coast, such as <i>Blechnum spicant, Anemone deltoidea</i>, and <i>Maianthemum dilatatum</i>, and without wetland indicator species, such as <i>Lysichiton americanus</i>. Geographic distribution is from western Washington, northwestern Oregon, eastern Vancouver Island and mainland southern Coast Mountains in British Columbia. These forests occur on uplands on moist to dry moisture microhabitat conditions within the Western Hemlock Zone of the Pacific Northwest. Elevation ranges from sea level to 1067 m (3500 feet) in Oregon, 610 m (2000 feet) in northern Washington, and to 700 m (2275 feet) in British Columbia. Topography ranges from relatively flat glacial tillplains to steep mountainous terrain.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:40026-{1E8AF360-A903-4DC2-853F-CAB8BF6911A1}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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