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CEGL000493 Tsuga heterophylla / Clintonia uniflora Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Western Hemlock / Bride''s Bonnet Forest
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is known from northeastern Washington, northern Idaho and northeastern Montana. This is the most widespread type of the interior Tsuga heterophylla forests and is considered one of the driest of the interior western hemlock communities. In the western part of its range, it typically occurs on uplands, generally the upper one-third of a slope. In northwestern Montana, at the easternmost extent of its range, it occurs on lower slopes, valley bottoms, and stream terraces. Elevations range from 550 to 1585 m (1800-5200 feet). Slopes range from gentle to steep (2-58%). Soils are silty clay loams, silt loams to sandy loams. Parent materials are generally quartzite, siltite, glacial till and outwash, sandstone and metasediments with an ash cap. Late-seral stages of this type are dense, shady stands dominated by Tsuga heterophylla and Thuja plicata. However, only about 10% of all stands sampled are older than 200 years, so most stands have a complex, variable mixed canopy. Most stands have Pseudotsuga menziesii, Larix occidentalis, Abies grandis, Pinus contorta, and/or Pinus monticola, but not all of these species are present in all stands. Note that Tsuga heterophylla and Thuja plicata are always present at least in the tree subcanopy, if not in the overstory canopy. Early-seral stages can be very similar to Thuja plicata types; however, these generally lack Tsuga heterophylla and have a lower conifer diversity. The shrub and herbaceous layers are species-rich. Most stands have Lonicera utahensis, Paxistima myrsinites, Rosa spp., and Linnaea borealis. Clintonia uniflora, Tiarella trifoliata, Viola orbiculata, Prosartes hookeri, and Goodyera oblongifolia are typical forbs. Clintonia uniflora is the most abundant (5%) and most highly constant species in an otherwise highly variable herbaceous layer. Total biomass can be sparse with dense canopies. Other herbaceous species that can be abundant are Arnica latifolia, Calamagrostis rubescens, and Coptis occidentalis.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Aralia nudicaulis, if present, is in very low abundance, lower than Clintonia uniflora. This is association is differentiated by its depauperate herbaceous cover (1-20%), while similar ~Tsuga heterophylla / Aralia nudicaulis Forest (CEGL000488)$$ has a richer, more abundant herbaceous layer (1-30% cover).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Late-seral stages of this type are dense, shady stands dominated by Tsuga heterophylla (average cover 20-53%) and Thuja plicata (average cover 25-37%). However, only about 10% of all stands sampled are older than 200 years, so most stands have many other conifer species included in the complex canopy of this widespread type. Most stands have, on average, 10% cover of Pseudotsuga menziesii, Larix occidentalis, Abies grandis, Pinus contorta, and/or Pinus monticola. Not all of these species are present in all stands, in fact conifer composition is highly variable. The time since, and intensity of, past disturbance (fire) and seed source will determine the abundance of seral conifer species. Intense fires favor Pinus contorta, moderate fires favor Larix occidentalis or Pinus monticola. Note that Tsuga heterophylla and Thuja plicata are always present at least in the tree subcanopy, if not in the overstory canopy. Early-seral stages can be very similar to Thuja plicata types; however, these generally lack Tsuga heterophylla and have a lower conifer diversity. The shrub and herbaceous layers are species-rich. Most stands have Lonicera utahensis, Paxistima myrsinites, Rosa spp., and Linnaea borealis. Clintonia uniflora, Tiarella trifoliata, Viola orbiculata, Prosartes hookeri (= Disporum hookeri), and Goodyera oblongifolia are typical forbs. Clintonia uniflora is the most abundant (5%) and most highly constant species in an otherwise highly variable herbaceous layer. Total biomass can be sparse with dense canopies. Other herbaceous species that can be abundant are Arnica latifolia, Calamagrostis rubescens, and Coptis occidentalis.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This is the most widespread type of the interior Tsuga heterophylla forests described from northeastern Washington, northern Idaho, and northwest Montana. This type is considered one of the driest of the interior western hemlock communities. It occurs on a broad range of elevations, slopes, and aspects. In the western part of its range, it typically occurs on uplands, generally the upper one-third of a slope. In northwestern Montana, at the eastward most extent of its range, it occurs on lower slopes, valley bottoms, and stream terraces. It occurs at elevations from 555 to 1560 m (1800-5200 feet). Slopes range from gentle to steep (2-58%). Soils are silty clay loams, silt loams to sandy loams. Coarse fragment content ranges from 5 to 60%. Parent materials are generally quartzite, siltite, sandstone and metasediments with an ash cap. Other parent materials include glacial till and outwash.
Geographic Range: This association is known from northeastern Washington, northern Idaho and northeastern Montana. Very similar forest types have been described from the south-central eastern Cascades of Washington.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: ID, MT, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688750
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4
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.Nb Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Division | D194 | 1.B.2.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Nb.3 Western Hemlock - Grand Fir - Western Larch Mesic Lower Montane Forest Macrogroup | M500 | 1.B.2.Nb.3 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nb.3.b Western Red-cedar - Western Hemlock Central Rocky Mountain Forest Group | G217 | 1.B.2.Nb.3.b |
| Alliance | A3612 Western Hemlock - Western Red-cedar Cool-Mesic Central Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Alliance | A3612 | 1.B.2.Nb.3.b |
| Association | CEGL000493 Western Hemlock / Bride''s Bonnet Forest | CEGL000493 | 1.B.2.Nb.3.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Tsuga heterophylla / Clintonia uniflora Habitat Type, Clintonia uniflora Phase (Pfister et al. 1977) [(p.74)]
= Tsuga heterophylla / Clintonia uniflora Habitat Type, Clintonia uniflora Phase (Cooper et al. 1987) [(p.23)]
= Tsuga heterophylla / Clintonia uniflora Plant Association (Williams and Smith 1990) [(p.28)]
= Tsuga heterophylla / Clintonia uniflora Plant Association (Williams et al. 1995)
= Tsuga heterophylla / Pachistima myrsinites / Clintonia uniflora (Lillybridge et al. 1995) [TSHE/PAMY/CLUN ASSOCIATION CHS143]
>< Tsuga heterophylla / Pachistima myrsinites Habitat Type (Daubenmire and Daubenmire 1968) [This type of Daubenmire and Daubenmire (1968) has been split into a number of NVC plant associations.]
= Tsuga heterophylla / Clintonia uniflora Habitat Type, Clintonia uniflora Phase (Cooper et al. 1987) [(p.23)]
= Tsuga heterophylla / Clintonia uniflora Plant Association (Williams and Smith 1990) [(p.28)]
= Tsuga heterophylla / Clintonia uniflora Plant Association (Williams et al. 1995)
= Tsuga heterophylla / Pachistima myrsinites / Clintonia uniflora (Lillybridge et al. 1995) [TSHE/PAMY/CLUN ASSOCIATION CHS143]
>< Tsuga heterophylla / Pachistima myrsinites Habitat Type (Daubenmire and Daubenmire 1968) [This type of Daubenmire and Daubenmire (1968) has been split into a number of NVC plant associations.]
- 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.
- Cooper, S. V., K. E. Neiman, R. Steele, and D. W. Roberts. 1987. Forest habitat types of northern Idaho: A second approximation. General Technical Report INT-236.USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, UT. 135 pp. [reprinted in 1991]
- Daubenmire, R. F., and J. B. Daubenmire. 1968. Forest vegetation of eastern Washington and northern Idaho. Washington State University Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Bulletin No. 60. 104 pp.
- Hop, K., M. Reid, J. Dieck, S. Lubinski, and S. Cooper. 2007. U.S. Geological Survey-National Park Service Vegetation Mapping Program: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI. 131 pp. plus Appendices A-L.
- Lillybridge, T. R., B. L. Kovalchik, C. K. Williams, and B. G. Smith. 1995. Field guide for forested plant associations of the Wenatchee National Forest. General Technical Report PNW-GTR-359. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Portland, OR. 335 pp.
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
- Pfister, R. D., B. L. Kovalchik, S. F. Arno, and R. C. Presby. 1977. Forest habitat types of Montana. General Technical Report INT-34. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 174 pp.
- Reid, M. S., S. V. Cooper, and G. Kittel. 2004. Vegetation classification of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. Final report for USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, International Peace Park Mapping Project. NatureServe, Arlington VA.
- 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.
- Williams, C. K., B. F. Kelly, B. G. Smith, and T. R. Lillybridge. 1995. Forest plant associations of the Colville National Forest. General Technical Report PNW-GTR-360. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 140 pp.
- Williams, C. K., T. R. Lillybridge, and B. G. Smith. 1990b. Forested plant associations of the Colville National Forest. Report prepared for USDA Forest Service, Colville National Forest, Colville, WA. 133 pp.
- Williams, C. K., and B. G. Smith. 1990. Forested plant associations of the Wenatchee National Forest. Unpublished draft prepared by the USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 217 pp.
- Zamora, B. A. 1983. Forest habitat types of the Spokane Indian Reservation. Agricultural Research Center, Washington State University Research Bulletin XB-0936-1983.