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CEGL000052 Abies lowiana - Picea breweriana / Vaccinium membranaceum / Goodyera oblongifolia Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sierra White Fir - Brewer Spruce / Thinleaf Huckleberry / Western Rattlesnake-plantain Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association has been described only from southwestern Oregon, on the Illinois Valley and Applegate Districts of the Siskiyou and Rogue River national forests. It possibly occurs in the adjacent region of northern California, but has not been documented from there. The association is most common on northern aspects occurring within a narrow elevational band from 1220 to 1525 m (4000-5000 feet). Sites are usually concave, relatively cool and moist. This is a structurally diverse coniferous forest, with a continuous vertical structure difficult to categorize as layers. The canopy is dominated by Abies lowiana, Picea breweriana, and Pseudotsuga menziesii. An important subcanopy dominant is Quercus sadleriana. The dominant shrubs are Vaccinium membranaceum and Chimaphila umbellata. The herbaceous layer has moderate cover (25%), with only the perennial Goodyera oblongifolia present in all stands. There is a nonvascular ground cover of mosses, with 18% cover. Graminoids are lacking. Picea breweriana is a Klamath-Siskiyou endemic.
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 is a structurally diverse coniferous forest, with a continuous vertical structure difficult to categorize as layers. It is dominated by the evergreen needle-leaved trees Abies lowiana (= Abies concolor var. lowiana), Picea breweriana and Pseudotsuga menziesii. Picea breweriana is typically less than 25 m in height, and forms a subcanopy under the other conifers, which average over 50 m in height. As many as seven other tree species can occur in some stands, most often with <10% cover. Total tree cover averages 84%. Both tall- and short-shrub layers are present. The tall layer is dominated by conifer regeneration, especially of Picea breweriana and Abies lowiana, with the broad-leaved evergreen small tree/tall shrub Quercus sadleriana contributing 25% cover. The short-shrub layer is dominated by a mix of broad-leaved deciduous and evergreen species. The deciduous Vaccinium membranaceum is the most constant (100%) and indicative of the cool, mesic sites. Other deciduous species include Holodiscus discolor and Rosa gymnocarpa. Evergreen shrubs commonly present include Chimaphila umbellata, Mahonia nervosa, Arctostaphylos nevadensis and Paxistima myrsinites. Although diverse in species, total shrub cover averages only 26%. The herbaceous layer has moderate cover (25%), with only the perennial Goodyera oblongifolia present in all stands. There is a nonvascular ground cover of mosses, with 18% cover.
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 eastern slope, where a rainshadow effect is pronounced and summers are very dry.
This association is found at relatively high (subalpine) elevations, from 1310-1560 m, in the central portion of the region, within the rainshadow of the Coast Range. Slopes are somewhat steep to steep, and aspects are typically northerly and cool, which results in cool soil temperatures and slow warming during the growing season. Local topographic effects result in increased fog and humidities, as well as orographically produced summer precipitation. Parent materials are primarily granitics, with some metamorphics. Soils derived from the granitics are very infertile and are low in most essential elements. Soils derived from the metamorphics are shallow and rocky. The average soil depth is 75 cm; litter covers 97% of the ground surface.
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 eastern slope, where a rainshadow effect is pronounced and summers are very dry.
This association is found at relatively high (subalpine) elevations, from 1310-1560 m, in the central portion of the region, within the rainshadow of the Coast Range. Slopes are somewhat steep to steep, and aspects are typically northerly and cool, which results in cool soil temperatures and slow warming during the growing season. Local topographic effects result in increased fog and humidities, as well as orographically produced summer precipitation. Parent materials are primarily granitics, with some metamorphics. Soils derived from the granitics are very infertile and are low in most essential elements. Soils derived from the metamorphics are shallow and rocky. The average soil depth is 75 cm; litter covers 97% of the ground surface.
Geographic Range: This association has been described only from southwestern Oregon. It may extend into northern California.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA?, OR
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687218
Confidence Level: Low
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.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 | CEGL000052 Sierra White Fir - Brewer Spruce / Thinleaf Huckleberry / Western Rattlesnake-plantain Forest | CEGL000052 | 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.
- 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.