Print Report
CEGL003398 Alnus rubra / Elymus glaucus Riparian Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Red Alder / Blue Wildrye Riparian Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association occurs in western Washington at low elevations on riparian floodplains and flat, lower terraces. Soils are well-drained due to coarse texture. Cobbles can be common on the soil surface of these sites although often obscured by litter. The canopy is dominated by Alnus rubra. In the western Olympics, Picea sitchensis is typically in the canopy or subcanopy. Grasses dominate the understory, and can codominate with the trailing dwarf-shrub Rubus ursinus (latter situation not found in the parks). Acer circinatum occasionally forms a tall-shrub layer. Elymus glaucus or Elymus hirsutus has over 1% cover and often well over 10%. Polystichum munitum is usually present but under 5% cover. Oxalis oregana, Claytonia sibirica, Galium aparine, Circaea alpina, and Tolmiea menziesii occur frequently. Agrostis spp. and Ranunculus repens are often abundant. Sites heavily used by elk may lack the full suite of native indicator species but are still dominated by grasses, such as Poa trivialis, Agrostis exarata, Poa pratensis, or Bromus sitchensis.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is broadly defined to include all grass-dominated Alnus rubra stands with Elymus glaucus or Elymus hirsutus. It is related to ~Alnus rubra / Oxalis (oregana, trilliifolia) Riparian Forest (CEGL003400)$$. The plots with Acer circinatum are related to ~Alnus rubra / Acer circinatum / Claytonia sibirica Riparian Forest (CEGL003298)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: No Data Available
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: No Data Available
Geographic Range: No Data Available
Nations: US
States/Provinces: OR, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685992
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4
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.d Sitka Spruce - Black Cottonwood - Oregon Ash Lowland Riparian Forest Group | G851 | 1.B.3.Ng.1.d |
| Alliance | A3745 Bigleaf Maple - Red Alder Riparian Forest Alliance | A3745 | 1.B.3.Ng.1.d |
| Association | CEGL003398 Red Alder / Blue Wildrye Riparian Forest | CEGL003398 | 1.B.3.Ng.1.d |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Alnus rubra / Elymus glaucus association (Diaz and Mellen 1996)
= Alnus rubra/Elymus glaucus Forest (Crawford et al. 2009)
= Alnus rubra/Rubus ursinus/Elymus glaucus Community Type (Chappell 1999)
? Alnus rubra community (Fonda 1974)
= Alnus rubra/Elymus glaucus Forest (Crawford et al. 2009)
= Alnus rubra/Rubus ursinus/Elymus glaucus Community Type (Chappell 1999)
? Alnus rubra community (Fonda 1974)
- Chappell, C. B. 1999. Ecological classification of low-elevation riparian vegetation on the Olympic Experimental State Forest: A first approximation. Unpublished progress report. Washing Natural Heritage Program, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Olympia. 43 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.
- Diaz, N. M., and T. K. Mellen. 1996. Riparian ecological types, Gifford Pinchot and Mt. Hood national forests, and Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Technical Report R6-NR-TP-10-96. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 203 pp. plus appendices.
- Fonda, R. W. 1974. Forest succession in relation to river terrace development in Olympic National Park, Washington. Ecology 55:927-942.
- Kagan, J. S., E. M. Nielsen, M. D. Noone, J. C. van Warmerdam, L. K. Wise, G. Kittel, and C. Copass. 2012. Lewis and Clark National Historic Park vegetation classification and mapping project report. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCCN/NRR--2012/597. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- 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.