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CEGL002612 Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium membranaceum / Valeriana sitchensis Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Subalpine Fir / Thinleaf Huckleberry / Sitka Valerian Forest

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This association occurs in the Cascades and in the northeastern Olympic Mountains at relatively high elevations and usually in relatively dry climatic zones. Sites have well-drained soils and usually southern aspects. Abies lasiocarpa dominates or codominates in a forest with a semi-open to closed tree canopy. Abies amabilis is usually present as the dominant regenerating tree and occasionally is codominant in the canopy. Picea engelmannii is sometimes prominent to codominant. The shrub layer is typically moderate in density and dominated by Vaccinium membranaceum. Sorbus sitchensis and Vaccinium deliciosum are frequent. Occasionally shrubs are only sparsely represented. The well-developed, diverse, and variable herbaceous layer almost always has Valeriana sitchensis prominent to codominant. Rubus lasiococcus, Arnica latifolia, and Veratrum viride are usually present to codominant. Clintonia uniflora, Rubus pedatus, Tiarella trifoliata, Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii, and Erythronium montanum are less frequent but can be prominent to codominant.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This type differs from ~Abies lasiocarpa / Valeriana sitchensis - Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii Forest (CEGL000345)$$ by having a greater abundance of Vaccinium membranaceum and Abies amabilis and a more diverse flora.

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: US

States/Provinces:  WA


Confidence Level: High

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.Nd Vancouverian Forest & Woodland Division D192 1.B.2.Nd
Macrogroup 1.B.2.Nd.4 California Red Fir - Mountain Hemlock - Sierra Lodgepole Pine Forest Macrogroup M025 1.B.2.Nd.4
Group 1.B.2.Nd.4.c Mountain Hemlock - Pacific Silver Fir - Alaska-cedar Wood Group G849 1.B.2.Nd.4.c
Alliance A3726 Pacific Silver Fir - Mountain Hemlock - Subalpine Fir Cascadian Forest & Woodland Alliance A3726 1.B.2.Nd.4.c
Association CEGL002612 Subalpine Fir / Thinleaf Huckleberry / Sitka Valerian Forest CEGL002612 1.B.2.Nd.4.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Abies amabilis/Veratrum viride Association (Franklin 1966)
= Abies lasiocarpa / Valeriana sitchensis Community Type (Franklin et al. 1988)
= Abies lasiocarpa-(Abies amabilis)/Vaccinium membranaceum/Valeriana sitchensis Forest (Crawford et al. 2009)
= Abies lasiocarpa Type (Fonda and Bliss 1969)
= Abies lasiocarpa-(Abies amabilis)/Vaccinium membranaceum/Valeriana sitchensis Forest (Chappell 2006a)
Concept Author(s): Crawford et al. (2009)

Author of Description: Crawford et al. (2009)

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 06-12-15
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  • Chappell, C. B. 2006a. Plant associations of balds and bluffs of western Washington. Natural Heritage Report 2006-02. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Olympia. [http://www.dnr.wa.gov/nhp/refdesk/communities/pdf/balds_veg.pdf]
  • Chappell, C. B. 2006b. Upland plant associations of the Puget Trough ecoregion, Washington. Natural Heritage Report 2006-01. Washington Department of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Program, Olympia, WA. [http://www.dnr.wa.gov/nhp/refdesk/communities/pdf/intro.pdf]
  • 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.
  • Fonda, R. W., and L. C. Bliss. 1969. Forest vegetation of the mountain and subalpine zones, Olympic Mountains, Washington. Ecological Monographs 39(3):271-301.
  • 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.
  • 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.