Print Report

CEGL000004 Abies amabilis - Tsuga heterophylla / Oplopanax horridus Swamp Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Pacific Silver Fir - Western Hemlock / Devil''s-club Swamp Forest

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This Pacific silver fir forest of the Pacific Northwest has a canopy that is usually codominated by Abies amabilis and Tsuga heterophylla, with Thuja plicata often codominant as well. Abies amabilis usually dominates tree regeneration and always has at least 10% total cover. Pseudotsuga menziesii is occasionally prominent to codominant. The shrub layer always has at least 5% cover of Oplopanax horridus, which typically dominates or codominates the undergrowth. A variety of other shrubs may be prominent to codominant, especially Vaccinium alaskaense and Rubus spectabilis. A rich herb layer is rather variable in composition but almost always has considerable Tiarella trifoliata var. unifoliata, Gymnocarpium dryopteris, and/or Athyrium filix-femina. Other frequent herbs are Viola glabella, Clintonia uniflora, Trillium ovatum, and Streptopus lanceolatus var. curvipes. In the Cascade Range and the Olympic Mountains, this association occurs at middle elevations on sites with shallowly subirrigated soils that are poorly drained, usually due to an underlying impermeable layer. Sites are often associated with springs, seeps or small streams. Many natural-origin stands occur on protected lands with few threats from logging and development.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This association is defined as a PNV vegetation type. If it were renamed as a dominance type, the species would include Tsuga heterophylla or Abies amabilis.

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 - Poorly Documented

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5

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.b Mountain Hemlock - Fir species / Willow species Montane Riparian Woodland Group G507 1.B.3.Ng.1.b
Alliance A3766 Mountain Hemlock - Pacific Silver Fir Swamp Woodland Alliance A3766 1.B.3.Ng.1.b
Association CEGL000004 Pacific Silver Fir - Western Hemlock / Devil''s-club Swamp Forest CEGL000004 1.B.3.Ng.1.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Abies amabilis / Oplopanax horridum - Vaccinium alaskaense (Henderson et al. 1992) [(p.92)]
= Abies amabilis / Oplopanax horridum (Brockway and Topik 1984)
= Abies amabilis / Oplopanax horridum (Henderson et al. 1989) [(p.198)]
= Abies amabilis / Oplopanax horridum association (Franklin et al. 1988) [(p.58)]
= Abies amabilis-Tsuga heterophylla/Oplopanax horridus (Meidinger et al. 2005) [PNWCOAST_011]
= Abies amabilis-Tsuga heterophylla/Oplopanax horridus Forest (Crawford et al. 2009)
= Pacific Silver Fir / Devil''s Club Association (CF S3-51) ABAM/OPHO (Brockway et al. 1983) [(p.62)]
= Pacific silver fir / devil''s-club (ABAM/OPHO) (Hemstrom et al. 1982)
Concept Author(s): Crawford et al. (2009)

Author of Description: Crawford et al. (2009)

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 05-10-16
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