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CEGL003271 Picea sitchensis / Lysichiton americanus Swamp Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sitka Spruce / Yellow Skunk-cabbage Swamp Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This plant association is a minor type in south-central Alaska''s rainforests. It occurs on floodplains and undisturbed north-aspect foot slopes with less than 15% slope and at less than 30 m (100 feet) elevation. Picea sitchensis is the dominant conifer with Tsuga heterophylla occasionally occurring as a minor associate. There are no shrub species dominant in this type, but Alnus viridis ssp. sinuata, Oplopanax horridus, Vaccinium ovalifolium, and Rubus spectabilis may be present. Lysichiton americanus is well represented in the undergrowth. Herbaceous species with high constancy but low cover include Rubus pedatus, Cornus canadensis, Tiarella trifoliata, Streptopus amplexifolius, Dryopteris expansa, Gymnocarpium dryopteris, and Phegopteris connectilis.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The first published account for this type is from the Chugach National Forest (DeVelice et al. 1999). This association was also described by Boggs (2000) as Picea sitchensis / Vaccinium ovalifolium / Lysichiton americanus. Other forested plant associations occur with Lysichiton americanus in the understory, however, the overstory is dominated by other tree species than Picea sitchensis.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Picea sitchensis is the dominant conifer with Tsuga heterophylla occasionally occurring as a minor associate. There are no shrub species dominant in this type, but Alnus viridis ssp. sinuata (= Alnus crispa ssp. sinuata), Oplopanax horridus (= Echinopanax horridus), Vaccinium ovalifolium, and Rubus spectabilis may be present. Lysichiton americanus is well represented in the undergrowth. Herbaceous species with high constancy but low cover include Rubus pedatus, Cornus canadensis, Tiarella trifoliata, Streptopus amplexifolius, Dryopteris expansa (= Dryopteris dilatata), Gymnocarpium dryopteris, and Phegopteris connectilis (= Thelypteris phegopteris).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This plant association is a minor type in south-central Alaska''s rainforests. It occurs on floodplains and undisturbed north-aspect foot slopes with less than 15% slope and at less than 30 m (100 feet) elevation.
Geographic Range: This plant association is restricted to the maritime rainforests of south-central Alaska.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AK
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687148
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3
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.g Western Hemlock - Mountain Hemlock / American Skunk-cabbage Swamp Forest Group | G854 | 1.B.3.Ng.1.g |
| Alliance | A4286 Western Hemlock - Sitka Spruce Alaskan Swamp Forest Alliance | A4286 | 1.B.3.Ng.1.g |
| Association | CEGL003271 Sitka Spruce / Yellow Skunk-cabbage Swamp Forest | CEGL003271 | 1.B.3.Ng.1.g |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Picea sitchensis / Lysichiton americanum (DeVelice et al. 1999)
= Picea sitchensis / Vaccinium ovalifolium / Lysichiton americanus (Boggs 2000)
= Picea sitchensis / Vaccinium ovalifolium / Lysichiton americanus (Boggs 2000)
- Boggs, K. 1996. Forested plant communities of maritime southcentral and southeast Alaska. Unpublished report of the Alaska Natural Heritage Program, University of Alaska, Anchorage.
- Boggs, K. 2000. Classification of community types, successional sequences and landscapes of the Copper River Delta, Alaska. General Technical Report PNW-GTR-469. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Portland, OR. March 2000. 244 pp.
- 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.
- DeVelice, R. L., C. J. Hubbard, K. Boggs, S. Boudreau, M. Potkin, T. Boucher, and C. Wertheim. 1999. Plant community types of the Chugach National Forest: South-central Alaska. Technical Publication R10-TP-76. USDA Forest Service, Chugach National Forest, Alaska Region. 375 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.