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CEGL000456 Pseudotsuga menziesii / Holodiscus discolor - Rosa gymnocarpa / Festuca occidentalis Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Douglas-fir / Oceanspray - Dwarf Rose / Western Fescue Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association occurs from sea level to about 1220 m (4000 feet) elevation in the northern portion of the Puget Lowland and the far northeastern Olympic Mountains, Washington (Clallam, Jefferson, San Juan, Skagit, Whatcom counties), and in adjacent British Columbia, especially the Gulf Islands and southeastern Vancouver Island. This is an evergreen needle-leaved forest, or occasionally woodland, dominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii. The broad-leaved deciduous Acer macrophyllum occasionally occurs as a prominent subcanopy. A variable-density tall-shrub layer 2-6 m tall is usually present and dominated by the deciduous broad-leaved Holodiscus discolor, though is absent under heavy browsing pressure on some islands. Shorter shrubs are also variable in their cover and always include the deciduous Rosa gymnocarpa; the evergreen dwarf shrubs Mahonia nervosa and Mahonia aquifolium are usually present, the former sometimes codominant. The herbaceous layer is typically dominated by short grasses, especially Festuca occidentalis, Festuca subuliflora, and Melica subulata. Other frequent species include Bromus vulgaris, Elymus glaucus, Pteridium aquilinum, Rubus ursinus, Galium aparine, Fragaria vesca, and Trientalis borealis ssp. latifolia. This association typically occurs on dry to very dry sites, with soils that are shallow to bedrock, in a very dry climatic zone in the rainshadow of the Olympic Mountains (less than 76 cm [30 inches] annual precipitation at sea level). Steep slopes or upper slope positions are typical. This association is distinguished from similar ones by >1% cover of Rosa gymnocarpa or Festuca occidentalis, combined with<10% cover of Symphoricarpos albus, Gaultheria shallon, Tsuga heterophylla, Thuja plicata, and Abies grandis, <20% cover of Arbutus menziesii, and <5% cover of Polystichum munitum.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This association is dominated by the evergreen needle-leaved tree Pseudotsuga menziesii, with occasional individuals of the conifers Abies grandis, Taxus brevifolia or Tsuga heterophylla, and the evergreen broad-leaved Arbutus menziesii. The understory is shrubby, with a mix of tall and shorter species generally averaging 25% cover. Most shrubs are broad-leaved deciduous; most abundant are Rosa gymnocarpa, Holodiscus discolor, Symphoricarpos mollis, and the evergreen Mahonia nervosa. The herbaceous layer is somewhat sparse. The perennial grasses Festuca occidentalis and Bromus vulgaris and the perennial forbs Adenocaulon bicolor, Campanula scouleri and Achlys triphylla being the most abundant species, although none average over 7% cover. Total average herbaceous cover is under 30%. Ground cover by mosses is moderate at 28%.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association occurs on warm, dry sites, in the northeastern region of the Olympic Peninsula, where a rainshadow effect on precipitation results in relatively low precipitation of less than 102 cm/year. Temperatures are almost continental in their seasonal variation. Winter snowpacks are light and transient, and there is a pronounced summer drought.
This association is found on southwestern to southeastern aspects on steep slopes or ridgetops, and convex topography. Elevation averages 915 m. Soils are derived from very stony colluvium, are shallow and well-drained. Textures vary from sandy loams and loamy sands to sands, with rocks, cobbles or gravel common throughout the profile.
This association is found on southwestern to southeastern aspects on steep slopes or ridgetops, and convex topography. Elevation averages 915 m. Soils are derived from very stony colluvium, are shallow and well-drained. Textures vary from sandy loams and loamy sands to sands, with rocks, cobbles or gravel common throughout the profile.
Geographic Range: Restricted to the northern Puget Lowland of Washington and the northeastern Olympic Mountains.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685510
Confidence Level: High
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2G3
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.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F008 | 1.B.2 |
| Division | 1.B.2.Nd Vancouverian Forest & Woodland Division | D192 | 1.B.2.Nd |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Nd.1 Southern Vancouverian Dry Foothill Forest & Woodland Macrogroup | M886 | 1.B.2.Nd.1 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nd.1.a Southern Vancouverian Dry Douglas-fir - Madrone Woodland Group | G800 | 1.B.2.Nd.1.a |
| Alliance | A3716 Douglas-fir - Grand Fir - Pacific Madrone Forest & Woodland Alliance | A3716 | 1.B.2.Nd.1.a |
| Association | CEGL000456 Douglas-fir / Oceanspray - Dwarf Rose / Western Fescue Forest | CEGL000456 | 1.B.2.Nd.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Pseudotsuga menziesii / Holodiscus discolor - Rosa gymnocarpa / Festuca occidentalis Forest (Copass and Ramm-Granberg 2016a)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Holodiscus discolor - Rosa gymnocarpa / Festuca occidentalis Forest Association (Rocchio et al. 2012)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Holodiscus discolor - Rosa gymnocarpa (Henderson et al. 1989)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Rosa gymnocarpa - Holodiscus discolor (Chappell 2006b) [26 plots]
= Pseudotsuga menziesii/Holodiscus discolor-Rosa gymnocarpa/Festuca occidentalis (Meidinger et al. 2005) [PNWCOAST_127]
= Pseudotsuga menziesii/Holodiscus discolor-Rosa gymnocarpa/Festuca occidentalis Forest (Crawford et al. 2009)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Holodiscus discolor - Rosa gymnocarpa / Festuca occidentalis Forest Association (Rocchio et al. 2012)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Holodiscus discolor - Rosa gymnocarpa (Henderson et al. 1989)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Rosa gymnocarpa - Holodiscus discolor (Chappell 2006b) [26 plots]
= Pseudotsuga menziesii/Holodiscus discolor-Rosa gymnocarpa/Festuca occidentalis (Meidinger et al. 2005) [PNWCOAST_127]
= Pseudotsuga menziesii/Holodiscus discolor-Rosa gymnocarpa/Festuca occidentalis Forest (Crawford et al. 2009)
- Bourgeron, P. S., and L. D. Engelking, editors. 1994. A preliminary vegetation classification of the western United States. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. 175 pp. plus appendix.
- Chappell, C. 1994. Natural forests of the Puget Lowland, Washington. Northwest Science Abstract.
- Chappell, C. B. 2006b. Upland plant associations of the Puget Trough ecoregion, Washington. Natural Heritage Report 2006-01. Washington Department of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Program, Olympia, WA. [http://www.dnr.wa.gov/nhp/refdesk/communities/pdf/intro.pdf]
- Copass, C., and T. Ramm-Granberg. 2016a. Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve vegetation inventory and mapping project. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCCN/NRR--2016/1127. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 194 pp.
- Crawford, R. C., C. B. Chappell, C. C. Thompson, and F. J. Rocchio. 2009. Vegetation classification of Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic national parks. Plant association descriptions and identification keys: Appendices A-G. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCCN/NRTR--2009/D-586. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 586 pp.
- Henderson, J. A., D. A. Peter, R. Lesher, and D. C. Shaw. 1989. Forested plant associations of the Olympic National Forest. R6-ECOL-TP-001-88. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 502 pp.
- Meidinger, D., C. Chappell, C. Cadrin, G. Kittel, C. McCain, K. Boggs, J. Kagan, G. Cushon, A. Banner, and T. DeMeo. 2005. International Vegetation Classification of the Pacific Northwest: International correlation of temperate coastal forest plant associations of Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska. Contributors: B.C. Ministry of Forests, USDA Forest Service, B.C. Conservation Data Centre, Alaska Natural Heritage Program, Washington Natural Heritage Program, and Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center.
- Rocchio, F. J., R. C. Crawford, and C. C. Thompson. 2012. San Juan Island National Historical Park vegetation classification and mapping project. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCCN/NRR--2012/603. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 188 pp.
- WNHP [Washington Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data files. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.