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CEGL000049 Abies lowiana - Chamaecyparis lawsoniana - Picea breweriana / Quercus vacciniifolia Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sierra White Fir - Port Orford-cedar - Brewer Spruce / Huckleberry Oak Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association occurs at moderate elevations of 1285-1420 m (4220-4650 feet) on northerly aspects in southwestern Oregon. The soil remains cold late into the growing season inhibiting water uptake. As the soil warms it also quickly dries and moisture becomes limiting. Moss covers more than 90% of the forest floor. Rocks on the ground surface are common, and the topsoil is coarse. This association is usually found on granodiorite substrates at the lower one-third of the slope, although it can occasionally be found on midslope benches. Pseudotsuga menziesii is seral on all sites and Pinus lambertiana and Pinus monticola occur in most stands. All of the tree species are well represented in the regeneration layer. Quercus vacciniifolia is the dominant shrub with an average cover of 40%. Quercus sadleriana shrubs are also common. Mahonia nervosa and Arctostaphylos nevadensis occur in all stands at low cover. The most common herbs are Arnica cordifolia and Galium ambiguum.
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 structurally diverse forest association is dominated by evergreen needle-leaved trees over 50 m in height. The most abundant include Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, Pseudotsuga menziesii, each with 12% cover, and lesser amounts of Abies lowiana (= Abies concolor var. lowiana), with 8% cover. Pinus lambertiana occurs in some stands. A lower subcanopy is dominated by the conifer Picea breweriana (18% cover) and the broad-leaved evergreen small tree/tall shrub Quercus vacciniifolia (averaging 40% cover). Both Abies lowiana and Chamaecyparis lawsoniana are represented in the subcanopy by saplings, as are several other conifers. There is a short-shrub layer, with 22% cover, composed of broad-leaved evergreen and deciduous species. The most constant and abundant evergreens include Mahonia nervosa, Arctostaphylos nevadensis, and Chimaphila umbellata, while constant deciduous species include Rosa gymnocarpa and Vaccinium parvifolium. The herbaceous layer is composed of perennial forbs and is relatively sparse at 12% cover, with no species having over 1% cover. The most constant species include Arnica cordifolia, Goodyera oblongifolia and Galium ambiguum. Cover of nonvascular species, primarily mosses, is very high at over 70%.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association occurs in a mountainous region (Klamath Mountains Province) of rugged, deeply dissected terrain. Geologically, the province is very complex and of very old deposits. Rock types include volcanic tuffs and sedimentary rocks which have been metamorphosed into schists, gneisses, marbles, and other metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks. Sandstones, siltstones and shales have been deposited near the coast. The most notable rock types are granitics and elongated, stringer-like outcrops of serpentine. Elevations of this region vary from sea level to well over 1525 m (5000 feet).
The climate of the region is maritime, with wet, mild winters, cool, relatively dry summers at higher elevations and warm to hot summers at lower elevations, prolonged cloudy periods, and high annual precipitation. Precipitation varies from over 160 cm annually near the coast, to less than 75 cm annually on the east slope, where a rainshadow effect is pronounced and summers are very dry.
This association is found at moderately high elevations, from 1280-1415 m, in the central portion of the region, within the rainshadow of the Coast Range. It occurs on lower slopes, ranging from moderate to steep, and aspects are typically cool, being northerly. Local topographic effects can result in increased fog and humidities, as well as orographically produced summer precipitation. Most sites supporting Chamaecyparis lawsoniana have abundant soil moisture, or high atmospheric moisture as a result of fog. Parent materials are granodiorites. Soils derived from these are coarse-textured, rocky, especially at the surface, and typically have low fertility.
The climate of the region is maritime, with wet, mild winters, cool, relatively dry summers at higher elevations and warm to hot summers at lower elevations, prolonged cloudy periods, and high annual precipitation. Precipitation varies from over 160 cm annually near the coast, to less than 75 cm annually on the east slope, where a rainshadow effect is pronounced and summers are very dry.
This association is found at moderately high elevations, from 1280-1415 m, in the central portion of the region, within the rainshadow of the Coast Range. It occurs on lower slopes, ranging from moderate to steep, and aspects are typically cool, being northerly. Local topographic effects can result in increased fog and humidities, as well as orographically produced summer precipitation. Most sites supporting Chamaecyparis lawsoniana have abundant soil moisture, or high atmospheric moisture as a result of fog. Parent materials are granodiorites. Soils derived from these are coarse-textured, rocky, especially at the surface, and typically have low fertility.
Geographic Range: This association is found in southwestern Oregon and possibly adjacent California.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA?, OR
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686147
Confidence Level: Low
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.2 Incense-cedar - Jeffrey Pine - Sierra White Fir Forest Macrogroup | M023 | 1.B.2.Nd.2 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nd.2.a Incense-cedar - Sugar Pine - Sierra White Fir Forest & Woodland Group | G344 | 1.B.2.Nd.2.a |
| Alliance | A0156 Brewer Spruce - Sierra White Fir Forest Alliance | A0156 | 1.B.2.Nd.2.a |
| Association | CEGL000049 Sierra White Fir - Port Orford-cedar - Brewer Spruce / Huckleberry Oak Forest | CEGL000049 | 1.B.2.Nd.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Atzet, T., and D. L. Wheeler. 1984. Preliminary plant associations of the Siskiyou Mountains Province, Siskiyou National Forest. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR.
- 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, 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.