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CEGL003258 Picea sitchensis - Tsuga heterophylla / Oplopanax horridus / Athyrium filix-femina Riparian Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sitka Spruce - Western Hemlock / Devil''s-club / Common Ladyfern Riparian Forest

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This riparian forest of Alaska and British Columbia is dominated by large Picea sitchensis surrounded by Oplopanax horridus. Mature Tsuga heterophylla trees occur in 50% of the stands. The trees tend to be taller on uplifted beach ridges and shorter on other landscapes. Oplopanax horridus dominates the understory with scattered amounts of Vaccinium species and Rubus spectabilis occurring in many stands. Oplopanax horridus and Rubus spectabilis cover increases in tree canopy gaps. Rubus pedatus and Tiarella trifoliata are common forbs. Dryopteris expansa and Gymnocarpium dryopteris are common ferns. This community type is found primarily on well-drained sand or gravel on uplifted beach ridges, floodplains, moraines, and proximal outwash. The water table occasionally rises into the surface horizons in the floodplain stands, whereas in most other stands, the water table is typically 1 m (3 feet) or more below the surface. The soils are usually classified as Oxyaquic Haplocryods in the floodplains and as Typic Haplocryods in the other landscapes.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: The first published account for this type is from the Ketchikan Area (DeMeo et al. 1992) on the Tongass National Forest. These forests also occur in the Yakutat Foreland (Shephard 1995), Chatham Area (Martin et al. 1995), Stikine Area (Pawuk and Kissinger 1989), in the Chugach National Forest (DeVelice et al. 1999) and in the Copper River Delta (Boggs 2000). Worley (1977) described a related type for the outer coast of Glacier Bay National Park.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This type is dominated by large Picea sitchensis surrounded by Oplopanax horridus (= Echinopanax horridus). Mature Tsuga heterophylla trees occur in 50% of the stands. The trees tend to be taller on uplifted beach ridges and shorter on other landscapes. Oplopanax horridus dominates the understory with scattered amounts of Vaccinium species and Rubus spectabilis occurring in many stands. Oplopanax horridus and Rubus spectabilis cover increases in tree canopy gaps. Rubus pedatus and Tiarella trifoliata are common forbs. Dryopteris expansa (= Dryopteris dilatata) and Gymnocarpium dryopteris are common ferns.

Dynamics:  This community may be a mid-seral type that eventually will be replaced by a Tsuga heterophylla - Picea sitchensis-dominated forest type. Additional study is needed.
Environmental Description:  This community type is found primarily on well-drained sand or gravel on uplifted beach ridges, floodplains, moraines, and proximal outwash. The water table occasionally rises into the surface horizons in the floodplain stands, whereas in most other stands, the water table is typically 1 m (3 feet) or more below the surface (Shephard 1995). The soils are usually classified as Oxyaquic Haplocryods in the floodplains and as Typic Haplocryods in the other landscapes (Shephard 1995).
Geographic Range: This type is from the Ketchikan Area (DeMeo et al. 1992) on the Tongass National Forest. These forests also occur in the Yakutat Foreland (Shephard 1995), Chatham Area (Martin et al. 1995), Stikine Area (Pawuk and Kissinger 1989), in the Chugach National Forest (DeVelice et al. 1999) and in the Copper River Delta (Boggs 2000). Worley (1977) described a related type for the outer coast of Glacier Bay National Park.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AK, BC


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 1 Forest & Woodland Class C01 1
Subclass 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass S15 1.B
Formation 1.B.3 Temperate Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation F026 1.B.3
Division 1.B.3.Ng Vancouverian Flooded & Swamp Forest Division D193 1.B.3.Ng
Macrogroup 1.B.3.Ng.1 Vancouverian Flooded & Swamp Forest Macrogroup M035 1.B.3.Ng.1
Group 1.B.3.Ng.1.f Sitka Spruce - Black Cottonwood Alaskan Riparian Woodland Group G852 1.B.3.Ng.1.f
Alliance A3747 Sitka Spruce Riparian Forest Alliance A3747 1.B.3.Ng.1.f
Association CEGL003258 Sitka Spruce - Western Hemlock / Devil''s-club / Common Ladyfern Riparian Forest CEGL003258 1.B.3.Ng.1.f
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Picea sitchensis / Echinopanax horridum - Rubus spectabilis (Sitka spruce / devil''s club - salmonberry) Community Type (Pawuk and Kissinger 1989)
? Picea sitchensis / Echinopanax horridum - Rubus spectabilis (Sitka spruce / devil''s club - salmonberry) Community Type (Martin et al. 1995)
? Picea sitchensis / Echinopanax horridum - Rubus spectabilis (Sitka spruce / devil''s club - salmonberry) Community Type (DeMeo et al. 1992)
? Picea sitchensis / Echinopanax horridum (Sitka spruce / devil''s club) Community Type (Martin et al. 1995)
? Picea sitchensis / Echinopanax horridum (Sitka spruce / devil''s club) Community Type (DeMeo et al. 1992)
? Picea sitchensis / Echinopanax horridum (Sitka spruce / devil''s club) Community Type (Pawuk and Kissinger 1989)
= Picea sitchensis / Echinopanax horridum Community Type (Sitka Spruce / Devil''s Club Community Type) (Boggs 2000)
? Picea sitchensis / Vaccinium ovalifolium - Echinopanax horridum (Sitka spruce / tall blueberry - devil''s club) Community Type (Borchers et al. 1989)
? Picea sitchensis / Vaccinium ovalifolium - Echinopanax horridum (Sitka spruce / tall blueberry - devil''s club) Community Type (DeVelice et al. 1994)
= Picea sitchensis-Tsuga heterophylla/Oplopanax horridus/Athyrium filix-femina (Meidinger et al. 2005) [PNWCOAST_071]
= CWH wm /04 (Green and Klinka 1994)
= CWH wm /04 (Banner et al. 1993)
Concept Author(s): DeMeo et al. (1992)

Author of Description: K. Boggs

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 11-16-05
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