Print Report

CEGL000639 Alnus rubra / Rubus spectabilis Riparian Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Red Alder / Salmonberry Riparian Forest

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This community type is found throughout the northern Puget Trough lowlands of Washington, although there are few remaining undisturbed examples. It typically occurs along the upland margin of wetlands and on the floodplains of streams and rivers. Soils range from alluvium to veneers of muck and peat. It may be seasonally flooded and soils are usually saturated year-round. Alnus rubra forms a nearly closed canopy. Rubus spectabilis can be the only species in the understory. Additional species include Athyrium filix-femina, Equisetum hyemale, Galium trifidum, Lonicera involucrata, Lysichiton americanus, Frangula purshiana, Ribes sp., Rubus ursinus, Sambucus racemosa, Thuja plicata, Tiarella trifoliata, Tolmiea menziesii, and Tsuga heterophylla.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Hebda and Biggs (1981) described this community type on alluvium in previously logged areas. Douglas (1971) briefly described an Alnus rubra / Rubus spectabilis community on low-elevation wet valley floors in the North Cascades of Washington. He also described an Alnus rubra / Acer circinatum - Rubus spectabilis / Athyrium filix-femina community which appears to fit this community type and is moving towards a Thuja plicata wet forest community type. Christy (1993) referenced Alnus rubra / Rubus spectabilis communities in Oregon within the Thuja plicata / Lysichiton americanus community.

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: According to Kunze (1994), this community type is found throughout the northern Puget Trough lowlands of Washington, although there are few remaining undisturbed examples. It is also reported to occur in California and Oregon and possibly British Columbia.

Nations: CA?,US

States/Provinces:  BC?, CA, OR, WA


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4G5

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.d Sitka Spruce - Black Cottonwood - Oregon Ash Lowland Riparian Forest Group G851 1.B.3.Ng.1.d
Alliance A3745 Bigleaf Maple - Red Alder Riparian Forest Alliance A3745 1.B.3.Ng.1.d
Association CEGL000639 Red Alder / Salmonberry Riparian Forest CEGL000639 1.B.3.Ng.1.d
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Alnus rubra / Rubus spectabilis / Oxalis spp. community (Diaz and Mellen 1996) [(p.67)]
= Alnus rubra / Rubus spectabilis / Tolmiea menziesii community (Diaz and Mellen 1996) [(p.71)]
= Alnus rubra / Rubus spectabilis (Murray 2000)
= Alnus rubra / Rubus spectabilis Forest (Copass and Ramm-Granberg 2016a)
= Alnus rubra / Rubus spectabilis Forest Association (Rocchio et al. 2012)
= Alnus rubra / Rubus spectabilis community type (Kunze 1994) [(p.32)]
= Alnus rubra-Populus trichocarpa/Rubus spectabilis community (Agee 1987)
= Alnus rubra/Rubus spectabilis Forest (Crawford et al. 2009)
= Alnus rubra/Rubus spectabilis (Chappell and Crawford 2005)
Concept Author(s): Western Ecology Group

Author of Description: L.M. Kunze (1994)

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-04-16
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  • Rocchio, F. J., R. C. Crawford, and C. C. Thompson. 2012. San Juan Island National Historical Park vegetation classification and mapping project. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCCN/NRR--2012/603. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 188 pp.
  • Titus, J. H., J. A. Christy, D. Vander Schaaf, J. S. Kagan, and E. R. Alverson. 1996. Native wetland, riparian, and upland plant communities and their biota in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. Report to the Environmental Protection Agency, Region X, Seattle, WA. Willamette Basin Geographic Initiative. Oregon Natural Heritage Program, The Nature Conservancy, Portland, OR.
  • WNHP [Washington Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data files. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA.
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