Print Report

CEGL000239 Abies amabilis - (Pseudotsuga menziesii, Abies procera) / Vaccinium membranaceum / Xerophyllum tenax Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available


Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Pacific Silver Fir - (Douglas-fir, Noble Fir) / Thinleaf Huckleberry / Common Beargrass Forest

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This association occurs at Mount Rainier National Park and in the northern and eastern Olympic Mountains at middle to high elevations. Sites are dry, usually on mid to upper slopes or ridgetops, with shallow or rocky soils and southerly aspects. The canopy is dominated by Abies amabilis, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Tsuga heterophylla, and/or Abies procera. Abies amabilis or Abies procera occupy over 10% total cover. Abies amabilis typically dominates tree regeneration. The shrub layer varies from sparse to dense but always has Vaccinium membranaceum, which usually is dominant. Xerophyllum tenax dominates a well-developed herb layer. Rubus lasiococcus, Orthilia secunda, Clintonia uniflora, or Viola sempervirens are often present.

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: No Data Available

Dynamics:  No Data Available

Environmental Description:  No Data Available

Geographic Range: No Data Available

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  BC, OR, WA




Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available

Grank: G4

Greasons: No Data Available


Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available

Synonomy: = Abies amabilis - (Pseudotsuga menziesii - Abies procera) / Vaccinium membranaceum / Xerophyllum tenax (Meidinger et al. 2005) [PNWCOAST_005]
= Abies amabilis / Vaccinium membranaceum - Xerophyllum tenax (Henderson et al. 1992)
= Abies amabilis / Vaccinium membranaceum / Xerophyllum tenax (Henderson et al. 1989)
= Abies amabilis / Vaccinium membranaceum / Xerophyllum tenax (Brockway and Topik 1984)
= Abies amabilis-(Pseudotsuga menziesii-Abies procera)/Vaccinium membranaceum/Xerophyllum tenax Forest (Crawford et al. 2009) [PNWCOAST_005]
= Pacific Silver Fir / Big Huckleberry - Beargrass Association (CF S2-51) ABAM/VAME/XETE (Brockway et al. 1983)
= Pacific silver fir / big huckleberry / beargrass (ABAM/VAME/XETE) (Hemstrom et al. 1982)

Concept Author(s): Crawford et al. (2009)

Author of Description: Crawford et al. (2009)

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 06-12-15

  • Bigley, R., and S. Hull. 1992. Siouxon guide to site interpretation and forest management Washington Department. Natural Resources Division of Forest Land Management, Olympia, WA. 216 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.
  • Brockway, D. G., C. Topik, M. A. Hemstrom, and W. H. Emmingham. 1983. Plant association and management guide for the Pacific silver fir zone, Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Technical Report R6-Ecol-130a-1983. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 122 pp.
  • Brockway, D. G., and C. Topik. 1984. Ecological classification and management characteristics of montane forest land in southwestern Washington. In: J. G. Bockheim, editor. Forest land classification: Experiences, problems, perspectives. Proceedings of a symposium held at the University of Wisconsin at Madison on March 18-20, 1984.
  • 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.
  • Dyrness, C. T., J. F. Franklin, and W. H. Moir. 1974a. A preliminary classification of forest communities in the central portion of the western Cascades of Oregon. Coniferous Forest Biome Bulletin 4:1-123.
  • Franklin, J. F. 1966. Vegetation and soils in the subalpine forests of the southern Washington Cascade Range. Ph.D. dissertation, Washington State University, Pullman. 132 pp.
  • Franklin, J. F., W. H. Moir, M. A. Hemstrom, S. E. Greene, and B. G. Smith. 1988. The forest communities of Mount Rainier National Park. USDI National Park Service. Scientific Monograph Series 19. Washington, DC. 194 pp.
  • Franklin, J. F., W. H. Moir, M. A. Hemstrom, and S. Greene. 1979. Forest ecosystems of Mount Rainier National Park. Unpublished report prepared for the USDI National Park Service.
  • Hemstrom, M. A., S. E. Logan, and W. Pavlat. 1987. Plant association and management guide, Willamette National Forest. Report R6-Ecol 257-B-86. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 312 pp.
  • Hemstrom, M. A., W. H. Emmingham, N. M. Halverson, S. E. Logan, and C. Topik. 1982. Plant association and management guide for the pacific silver fir zone, Mt. Hood and Willamette national forests. R6-Ecol 100-1982a. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 104 pp.
  • Henderson, J. A. 1981. Preliminary plant associations and habitat types of the White River District, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Unpublished report prepared for USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region. 40 pp.
  • Henderson, J. A., D. A. Peter, R. Lesher, and D. C. Shaw. 1989. Forested plant associations of the Olympic National Forest. R6-ECOL-TP-001-88. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 502 pp.
  • Henderson, J. A., D. A. Peter, R. Lesher, and D. C. Shaw. 1992. Field guide to forested plant associations of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Technical Paper R6-ECOL-TP-028-91. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 196 pp.
  • Henderson, J. A., D. A. Peter, and R. Lesher. 1986. Preliminary plant associations of the Olympic National Forest. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region. 136 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.
  • 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.