Print Report
CEGL003299 Quercus garryana - (Fraxinus latifolia) / Symphoricarpos albus Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Oregon White Oak - (Oregon Ash) / Common Snowberry Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This forest association occurs in the southern Puget Lowland of western Washington, the Willamette Valley and the Umpqua Valley of western Oregon, at low elevations. Sites occupied are the drier portions of relatively level riparian areas or transition zones surrounding wetlands within landscapes that currently or formerly supported grasslands (prairies). These may occasionally be flooded in the winter or early spring, but during most years would not be flooded with surface water. They are, however, strongly influenced by subsurface water associated with adjacent wetlands or streams. In pre-European settlement times, they were likely influenced by anthropogenic fires from adjacent prairies, but the frequency and severity of such fires are unknown. This deciduous broad-leaved forest, or less commonly woodland, is dominated by Quercus garryana, that infrequently has significant amounts of conifer in the canopy or subcanopy as well, mostly Pseudotsuga menziesii (mean 10% cover when present). Fraxinus latifolia is usually present (52% of plots in Washington, more common in Oregon), occasionally codominant, in the canopy or the subcanopy. The understory is dominated by deciduous shrubs, mostly Symphoricarpos albus 0.6-1.4 m tall (mean 52% cover), with significant amounts of the taller Amelanchier alnifolia and Oemleria cerasiformis almost always prominent. Other understory species usually present include the short-shrub Mahonia aquifolium, the fern Polystichum munitum, and the forb Galium aparine. One or more of the following forbs is usually present: Maianthemum stellatum, Circaea alpina, Claytonia sibirica, Trillium albidum ssp. parviflorum, Nemophila parviflora, or Viola glabella. This association is distinguished from similar associations by its riparian or wetland setting, by >10% cover of Symphoricarpos albus, along with combined cover of >1% for Polystichum munitum, Circaea alpina, Maianthemum stellatum, and Claytonia sibirica, or Fraxinus latifolia present in the canopy; and <25% cover of Pseudotsuga menziesii.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: There is some intergradation with ~Pseudotsuga menziesii - Quercus garryana / Symphoricarpos albus Woodland (CEGL000929)$$, which can result in difficulty assigning the association to some stands
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This deciduous broad-leaved forest, or less commonly woodland, is dominated by Quercus garryana, that infrequently has significant amounts of conifer in the canopy or subcanopy as well, mostly Pseudotsuga menziesii (mean 10% cover when present). Fraxinus latifolia is usually present (52% of plots in Washington, more common in Oregon), occasionally codominant, in the canopy or the subcanopy. The understory is dominated by deciduous shrubs, mostly Symphoricarpos albus 0.6-1.4 m tall (mean 52% cover), with significant amounts of the taller Amelanchier alnifolia and Oemleria cerasiformis almost always prominent. Other understory species usually present include the short-shrub Mahonia aquifolium, the fern Polystichum munitum, and the forb Galium aparine. One or more of the following forbs is usually present: Maianthemum stellatum, Circaea alpina, Claytonia sibirica, Trillium albidum ssp. parviflorum (= Trillium parviflorum), Nemophila parviflora, or Viola glabella. This association is distinguished from similar associations by its riparian or wetland setting, by >10% cover of Symphoricarpos albus, along with combined cover of >1% for Polystichum munitum, Circaea alpina, Maianthemum stellatum, and Claytonia sibirica, or Fraxinus latifolia present in the canopy; and <25% cover of Pseudotsuga menziesii.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This forest association occurs in the southern Puget Lowland of western Washington, the Willamette Valley and the Umpqua Valley of western Oregon, at low elevations. Sites occupied are the drier portions of relatively level riparian areas or transition zones surrounding wetlands within landscapes that currently or formerly supported grasslands (prairies). These may occasionally be flooded in the winter or early spring, but during most years would not be flooded with surface water. They are, however, strongly influenced by subsurface water associated with adjacent wetlands or streams. In pre-European settlement times, they were likely influenced by anthropogenic fires from adjacent prairies, but the frequency and severity of such fires are unknown.
Geographic Range: This association occurs from Pierce County, Washington, south through the Willamette Valley to the Umpqua Valley of Oregon.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: OR, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685603
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2
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.b Oregon White Oak - Ponderosa Pine - Douglas-fir Forest & Woodland Group | G206 | 1.B.2.Nd.1.b |
| Alliance | A3328 Oregon White Oak - Douglas-fir / Pacific Poison-oak Forest & Woodland Alliance | A3328 | 1.B.2.Nd.1.b |
| Association | CEGL003299 Oregon White Oak - (Oregon Ash) / Common Snowberry Forest | CEGL003299 | 1.B.2.Nd.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Quercus garryana - (Fraxinus latifolia) / Symphoricarpos albus (Chappell 2006b) [21 plots]
= Quercus garryana - (Fraxinus latifolia) / Symphoricarpos albus Forest (Buechling et al. 2008)
= Quercus garryana / Symphoricarpos albus / moist forb (Chappell and Crawford 1997)
= Quercus garryana - (Fraxinus latifolia) / Symphoricarpos albus Forest (Buechling et al. 2008)
= Quercus garryana / Symphoricarpos albus / moist forb (Chappell and Crawford 1997)
- Buechling, A., E. Alverson, J. Kertis, and G. Fitzpatrick. 2008. Classification of oak vegetation in the Willamette Valley. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Oregon State University, Corvallis. 71 pp.
- 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]
- Chappell, C. B., R. Bigley, R. Crawford, and D. F. Giglio. No date. Field guide to terrestrial plant associations of the Puget Lowland, Washington. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA. [in preparation]
- Chappell, C. B., and R. C. Crawford. 1997. Native vegetation of the South Puget Sound prairie landscape. Pages 107-122 in: P. Dunn and K. Ewing, editors. Ecology and conservation of the South Puget Sound prairie landscape. The Nature Conservancy of Washington, Seattle. 289 pp.
- Copass, C., and T. Ramm-Granberg. 2016b. Vancouver National Historic Reserve vegetation inventory and mapping project. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCCN/NRR--2016/1128. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 90 pp.
- 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.
- 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.