Print Report
G212 Abies grandis - Pseudotsuga menziesii East Cascades Forest Group
Type Concept Sentence: This forested group occurs in the eastern Cascades of Washington and Oregon and are dominated by a mix of Pseudotsuga menziesii with Abies grandis. Several other conifers such as Pinus contorta, Pinus monticola, and/or Larix occidentalis can dominate or codominate; common shrub species include Acer circinatum, Cornus nuttallii, Mahonia nervosa, Paxistima myrsinites, Rubus parviflorus, Spiraea betulifolia, and Symphoricarpos hesperius.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Grand Fir - Douglas-fir East Cascades Forest Group
Colloquial Name: East Cascades Mesic Grand Fir - Douglas-fir Forest
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This forested group occurs on the upper slopes of the eastern Cascades in Washington, south of Lake Chelan to Mount Hood in Oregon. These forests are dominated by a mix of Pseudotsuga menziesii with Abies grandis. Several other conifers can dominate or codominate, including Pinus contorta, Pinus monticola, and Larix occidentalis. Acer circinatum, Cornus nuttallii, Linnaea borealis, Mahonia nervosa, Paxistima myrsinites, Rubus parviflorus, Spiraea betulifolia, Symphoricarpos hesperius, and Vaccinium membranaceum are common shrub species. The composition of the herbaceous layer reflects local climate and degree of canopy closure and contains species more restricted to the Cascades, for example, Achlys triphylla, Anemone deltoidea, and Vancouveria hexandra. Elevations range from 610 to 1220 m (2000-4000 feet) in a very restricted range occupying less than 5% of the forested landscape in the eastern Cascades. This group typically occurs below the Pacific silver fir forests found along the crest of the Cascades, and occurs along rivers and in mesic "coves" which were historically protected from wildfires. Typically, stand-replacement fire-return intervals are 150-500 years with moderate-severity fire-return intervals of 50-100 years. These are very productive forests in the eastern Cascades which have been priority stands for timber production. This group is associated with a submesic climate regime with annual precipitation ranging from 100 to 200 cm (40-80 inches) and maximum winter snowpacks that typically melt off in spring at lower elevations.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Productive conifer forests found in the eastern Cascades, dominated by Abies grandis or Pseudotsuga menziesii, in relatively mesic settings, where fire-return intervals are long.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This group includes moister Abies grandis associations in the eastern Cascades. This group should perhaps be merged with ~Central Rocky Mountain Mesic Grand Fir - Douglas-fir Forest Group (G211)$$, which does have some similar floristic components. The problem with this group (along with many associations of the eastern Cascades) is that the associations in it have both coastal/Vancouverian floristic relationships, along with Northern Rocky Mountain affinities. Either way, it seems to the writer of this description to be a relatively fine distinction, perhaps better handled at the alliance level.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Productive conifer forests, generally tall, with mixed shrub and herb understories. Shrubs are broad-leaved deciduous species, and the herbaceous component is predominantly forbs rather than grasses or sedges.
Floristics: Most occurrences of this group are dominated by a mix of Pseudotsuga menziesii with Abies grandis. Several other conifers can dominate or codominate, including Pinus contorta, Pinus monticola, and Larix occidentalis. Occasionally Tsuga heterophylla or Thuja plicata can be present in the canopy. Abies grandis and other fire-sensitive, shade-tolerant species dominate forests on many sites once dominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii and Pinus ponderosa, which were formerly maintained by wildfire. Mahonia nervosa, Linnaea borealis, Paxistima myrsinites, Acer circinatum, Spiraea betulifolia, Symphoricarpos hesperius, Cornus nuttallii, Rubus parviflorus, and Vaccinium membranaceum are common shrub species. The composition of the herbaceous layer reflects local climate and degree of canopy closure and contains species more restricted to the Cascades, for example, Acer circinatum, Achlys triphylla, Anemone deltoidea, Mahonia nervosa, Chrysolepis chrysophylla, Cornus nuttallii, and Vancouveria hexandra.
Dynamics: Typically, stand-replacement fire-return intervals are 150-500 years with moderate-severity fire-return intervals of 50-100 years. These are very productive forests in the eastern Cascades which have been priority stands for timber production. Abies grandis and other fire-sensitive, shade-tolerant species dominate forests on many sites once dominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii and Pinus ponderosa, which were formerly maintained by wildfire.
Environmental Description: This forested group occurs on the upper east slopes of the Cascades in Washington, south of Lake Chelan and south to Mount Hood in Oregon. Elevations range from 610 to 1220 m (2000-4000 feet) in a very restricted range occupying less than 5% of the forested landscape in the East Cascades. This group is associated with a submesic climate regime with annual precipitation ranging from 100 to 200 cm (40-80 inches) and maximum winter snowpacks that typically melt off in spring at lower elevations. This group is composed of variable montane coniferous forests typically below Pacific silver fir forests along the crest east of the Cascades. This group also includes montane forests along rivers and slopes, and in mesic "coves" which were historically protected from wildfires.
Geographic Range: This group occurs on the upper east slopes of the Cascades in Washington, south of Lake Chelan and south to Mount Hood in Oregon.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: BC, CA, OR, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.836562
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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.c Grand Fir - Douglas-fir East Cascades Forest Group | G212 | 1.B.2.Nb.3.c |
| Alliance | A3582 Western Hemlock - Grand Fir Cascadian Mesic Cove Forest Alliance | A3582 | 1.B.2.Nb.3.c |
| Alliance | A3583 Grand Fir - Douglas-fir Mesic Cascadian Forest Alliance | A3583 | 1.B.2.Nb.3.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
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