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CEGL000054 Chamaecyparis lawsoniana - Picea sitchensis / Vaccinium ovatum - Rhododendron macrophyllum Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Port Orford-cedar - Sitka Spruce / California Huckleberry - Pacific Rhododendron Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This coastal forest is restricted to marine terraces along the southern Oregon and potentially extreme northern California coasts. It is a diverse forest, with Chamaecyparis lawsoniana and Picea sitchensis as the primary canopy and understory trees, but with both Pseudotsuga menziesii and Tsuga heterophylla found. These forests have a dense (often impenetrable) shrub understory dominated by Vaccinium ovatum, Rhododendron macrophyllum, and Gaultheria shallon. Morella californica, Rubus spectabilis, Rhododendron occidentale are also not uncommon shrubs. These forests have only been found on relatively flat marine terraces, within 5 miles of the ocean. No old-growth stands remain. In addition, an introduced root rot (Phytophthora lateralis) is killing mature Chamaecyparis lawsoniana trees in all stands, which causes them to be generally more open than most coastal forests.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type was originally described by Hawk (1977) to represent both coastal dune habitats and the marine terrace habitats. The dune association was better classified in a more recent study as Chamaecyparis lawsoniana / Vaccinium ovatum. As a result of writing this description, and new fieldwork in southwestern Oregon, the name has been modified slightly. The concept is refined to include only marine terrace or inland stands, and not the sand dune habitats. Because this type has become so rare and endangered, finding examples of old-growth stands appears unlikely.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: It is a diverse forest, with Chamaecyparis lawsoniana and Picea sitchensis as the primary canopy and understory trees, but with both Pseudotsuga menziesii and Tsuga heterophylla found. These forests have a dense (often impenetrable) shrub understory dominated by Vaccinium ovatum, Rhododendron macrophyllum, and Gaultheria shallon. Morella californica (= Myrica californica), Rubus spectabilis, Rhododendron occidentale are also not uncommon shrubs. No old-growth stands remain.
Dynamics: An introduced root rot (Phytophthora lateralis) is killing mature Chamaecyparis lawsoniana trees in all stands, which causes them to be generally more open than most coastal forests.
Environmental Description: This coastal forest is restricted to relatively flat marine terraces along the southern Oregon and potentially extreme northern California coasts, within 5 miles of the ocean.
Geographic Range: This community is currently only found in the southern Oregon coast, within the coastal fog belt, of northern Curry County. It was formerly found in adjacent Coos County to the north, and possibly in northern Del Norte County, California.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA?, OR
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685584
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1
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.3 Western Hemlock - Sitka Spruce - Redwood Rainforest Macrogroup | M024 | 1.B.2.Nd.3 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nd.3.f Western Hemlock - Sitka Spruce North-Central Pacific Rainforest Group | G751 | 1.B.2.Nd.3.f |
| Alliance | A3606 Port Orford-cedar - Sitka Spruce Forest Alliance | A3606 | 1.B.2.Nd.3.f |
| Association | CEGL000054 Port Orford-cedar - Sitka Spruce / California Huckleberry - Pacific Rhododendron Forest | CEGL000054 | 1.B.2.Nd.3.f |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- 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.
- Hawk, G. M. 1977. A comparative study of temperate Chamaecyparis forests. Unpublished dissertation, Oregon State University, Corvallis. 194 pp.
- Kagan, J. S., J. A. Christy, D. Vandershaaf, and J. H. Titus. 1998. Inventory of the vegetation, rare species and habitats of Curry County Parks. Unpublished report to Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation, Salem, by Oregon Natural Heritage Program, Portland.
- Kagan, J. S., J. A. Christy, M. P. Murray, and J. A. Titus. 2004. Classification of native vegetation of Oregon. January 2004. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Portland. 52 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.
- Wiedemann, A. M. 1966. Contributions to the plant ecology of the Oregon coastal sand dunes. Ph.D. dissertation, Oregon State University, Corvallis. 255 pp.