Print Report
CEGL003350 Pseudotsuga menziesii - Abies grandis / Symphoricarpos albus / Melica subulata Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Douglas-fir - Grand Fir / Common Snowberry / Alaska Oniongrass Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This forest association occurs only near sea level in a small area of the northeastern Olympic Peninsula and the San Juan Islands, Washington, and possibly in adjacent British Columbia. Stands occur on slightly dry to mesic sites that are not too steep, in the driest climatic region in western Washington where annual precipitation averages 45-74 cm (18-29 inches). These forest patches typically occur near or directly adjacent to prairies or extensive herbaceous bald areas where pre-settlement fires were frequent, indicating that this type is likely a relict of indigenous burning practices. This evergreen needle-leaved forest is dominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii and codominated by Abies grandis. Tree regeneration is dominated by Abies grandis. The understory has a variable deciduous broad-leaved shrub layer typically dominated by Symphoricarpos albus and/or Holodiscus discolor, with Rosa gymnocarpa prominent and the evergreen dwarf-shrub Mahonia nervosa occasionally codominant at lower levels. The grasses Melica subulata and Festuca occidentalis are usually present and average 5-10% cover each. The evergreen fern Polystichum munitum is almost always present and usually common (mean 7% cover). Other high frequency understory species are Festuca subuliflora, Galium aparine, Galium triflorum, Goodyera oblongifolia, Osmorhiza berteroi, Pteridium aquilinum, Trientalis borealis ssp. latifolia, Rubus ursinus, and Lonicera ciliosa. This association is distinguished from similar ones by >10% cover of either Symphoricarpos albus or Holodiscus discolor, >10% cover of Abies grandis, combined with <10% cover of Tsuga heterophylla, Thuja plicata, and Gaultheria shallon, and <25% cover of Polystichum munitum.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Good plot data exist from Washington associated with occurrences. Some uncertainty about whether this type occurs in British Columbia due to significant differences in their forest classification.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This evergreen needle-leaved forest is dominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii and codominated by Abies grandis. Tree regeneration is dominated by Abies grandis. The understory has a variable deciduous broad-leaved shrub layer typically dominated by Symphoricarpos albus and/or Holodiscus discolor, with Rosa gymnocarpa prominent and the evergreen dwarf-shrub Mahonia nervosa occasionally codominant at lower levels. The grasses Melica subulata and Festuca occidentalis are usually present and average 5-10% cover each. The evergreen fern Polystichum munitum is almost always present and usually common (mean 7% cover). Other high frequency understory species are Festuca subuliflora, Galium aparine, Galium triflorum, Goodyera oblongifolia, Osmorhiza berteroi (= Osmorhiza chilensis), Pteridium aquilinum, Trientalis borealis ssp. latifolia (= Trientalis latifolia), Rubus ursinus, and Lonicera ciliosa.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This forest association occurs only near sea level in a small area of the northeastern Olympic Peninsula and the San Juan Islands, Washington, and possibly in adjacent British Columbia. Stands occur on slightly dry to mesic sites that are not too steep, in the driest climatic region in western Washington where annual precipitation averages 45-74 cm (18-29 inches). These forest patches typically occur near or directly adjacent to prairies or extensive herbaceous bald areas where pre-settlement fires were frequent, indicating that this type is likely a relict of indigenous burning practices.
Geographic Range: This type occurs near Sequim, Clallam County, on a few of the San Juan Islands (mostly San Juan and Lopez), San Juan County, and perhaps on northern Whidbey Island, Island County, in Washington. It may also occur in adjacent British Columbia.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687119
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.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 | CEGL003350 Douglas-fir - Grand Fir / Common Snowberry / Alaska Oniongrass Forest | CEGL003350 | 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 - Abies grandis / Festuca occidentalis (Chappell 2006b) [6 plots]
= Pseudotsuga menziesii - Abies grandis / Holodiscus discolor / Polystichum munitum (Chappell 2006b) [7 plots]
= Pseudotsuga menziesii - Abies grandis / Holodiscus discolor / Symphoricarpos albus Forest (Copass and Ramm-Granberg 2016a)
> Pseudotsuga menziesii-Abies grandis/Holodiscus discolor/Melica subulata (Meidinger et al. 2005) [PNWCOAST_153]
= Pseudotsuga menziesii - Abies grandis / Holodiscus discolor / Polystichum munitum (Chappell 2006b) [7 plots]
= Pseudotsuga menziesii - Abies grandis / Holodiscus discolor / Symphoricarpos albus Forest (Copass and Ramm-Granberg 2016a)
> Pseudotsuga menziesii-Abies grandis/Holodiscus discolor/Melica subulata (Meidinger et al. 2005) [PNWCOAST_153]
- 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]
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.