Print Report

A3583 Abies grandis - Pseudotsuga menziesii Mesic Cascadian Forest Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of forests dominated by Abies grandis or a mix of Pseudotsuga menziesii with Abies grandis. Several other conifers can dominate or codominate, including Pinus contorta, Pinus monticola, and Larix occidentalis. It occurs along the eastern slope of the Cascades south of Lake Chelan, in the eastern Okanogan Highlands in Washington, south to Mount Hood in Oregon.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Grand Fir - Douglas-fir Mesic Cascadian Forest Alliance

Colloquial Name: Cascadian Grand Fir - Douglas-fir Mesic Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance consists of forests dominated by Abies grandis or a mix of Pseudotsuga menziesii with Abies grandis. Several other conifers can dominate or codominate, including Pinus contorta, Pinus monticola, and Larix occidentalis. Understory species are characteristic of the eastern Cascades and include Acer circinatum, Achlys triphylla, Anemone deltoidea, Chrysolepis chrysophylla, Cornus nuttallii, Mahonia nervosa, and Vancouveria hexandra. This alliance occurs along the eastern slope of the Cascades south of Lake Chelan, in the eastern Okanogan Highlands in Washington, south to Mount Hood in Oregon. Elevations range from 590 to 760 m in the eastern Cascades. All aspects are represented, and slopes can be flat to steep. Parent materials are highly variable, but volcanic ash is often present in the soil profile.

These woodlands generally occur on sites which are intermediate in moisture between forest types dominated by Abies grandis and low-elevation steppe grasslands or woodlands, which occupy wetter and drier sites, respectively. Abies grandis woodland associations occur on a wide variety of soil types but are usually associated with well-drained soils, and often occupy southerly or westerly aspects. The shrub layer is dominated by the prostrate, mat-forming Arctostaphylos nevadensis, with Arctostaphylos uva-ursi also being important in some stands. The other associations have taller shrub layers composed of cold-deciduous or ericaceous species, including Acer circinatum, Acer glabrum, Arctostaphylos nevadensis, Chrysolepis chrysophylla, Cornus nuttallii, Holodiscus discolor, Mahonia nervosa, and Vaccinium membranaceum. The herbaceous component of these woodlands is dominated by perennial bunchgrasses or cespitose sedges. Calamagrostis rubescens is present in almost all stands, and can be dominant (up to 70% cover), and Carex geyeri is another dominant species in some stands. Lichens can be common on some sites, primarily growing on exposed rock.

Diagnostic Characteristics: 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, Chrysolepis chrysophylla, Cornus nuttallii, Mahonia nervosa, and Vancouveria hexandra.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: No Data Available

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Associations in this alliance are characterized by a closed tree canopy (averaging >60% cover) of tall coniferous trees which can attain 50 m in height. A subcanopy is often present, composed of broad-leaved cold-deciduous shrubs or shade-tolerant small trees. Herbaceous cover is highly variable, ranging from 0-60% cover depending on location, precipitation, fire history, and stand age. Generally the abundance of subcanopy and herbaceous cover decreases with increasing stand age and as available light decreases.

Floristics: These forests are dominated by Abies grandis or a mix of Pseudotsuga menziesii with Abies grandis. Several other conifers can dominate or codominate, including Pinus contorta, Pinus monticola, and Larix occidentalis. The shrub layer is dominated by the prostrate, mat-forming Arctostaphylos nevadensis, with Arctostaphylos uva-ursi also being important in some stands. The other associations have taller shrub layers composed of cold-deciduous or ericaceous species, including Acer circinatum, Acer glabrum, Chrysolepis chrysophylla, Cornus nuttallii, Holodiscus discolor, Mahonia nervosa, and Vaccinium membranaceum. The herbaceous layer species commonly dominant include eastern Cascadian species such as Achlys triphylla, Anemone deltoidea, and Vancouveria hexandra.

Dynamics:  These woodlands include fire-maintained stands where Abies grandis will eventually become the canopy dominant with fire suppression. Lillybridge et al. (1995) report fire-return intervals of 30-50 years, and that all stands show evidence of fire, such as char on logs and snags, and charcoal in the soil. Other stands of this alliance includes montane forests along rivers and slopes. They are very productive forests which have been priorities for timber production.
Environmental Description:  The climate regime with which this alliance is associated is usually submesic with annual precipitation ranging from 50-100 cm, with a maximum in winter or late spring. Snowpacks typically accumulate each winter but melt off in early spring at lower elevation sites. Elevations rage between 590 and 760 m in the eastern Cascades. All aspects are represented, and slopes can be flat to steep. Parent materials are highly variable, but most studies report that volcanic ash is often present in the soil profile. Soils are derived from basalt colluvium and alluvium, volcanic ash, granitics, shale, sandstone, meta-sediments, gneiss, quartzite, limestone, and loess or loess-ash over colluvium or alluvium. Soils textures cover the range from excessively rocky and well-drained to silty loams with a clay pan in the B horizon. Soils vary, but several authors report volcanic ash over varied parent materials.
Geographic Range: This forested alliance occurs on the upper to mid eastern slopes of the Cascade Range in Washington, south of Lake Chelan and south to Mount Hood in Oregon.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  BC, CA, OR, WA


Confidence Level: Low

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 A3583 Grand Fir - Douglas-fir Mesic Cascadian Forest Alliance A3583 1.B.2.Nb.3.c
Association CEGL000038 Grand Fir / Giant Chinquapin Forest CEGL000038 1.B.2.Nb.3.c
Association CEGL000039 Grand Fir / Beautiful Jacob''s-ladder Forest CEGL000039 1.B.2.Nb.3.c
Association CEGL000040 Grand Fir - Douglas-fir / Broadleaf Starflower Forest CEGL000040 1.B.2.Nb.3.c
Association CEGL000266 Grand Fir / Vine Maple Forest CEGL000266 1.B.2.Nb.3.c
Association CEGL000268 Grand Fir / Sweet After Death Forest CEGL000268 1.B.2.Nb.3.c
Association CEGL000271 Grand Fir / Cascade Barberry Forest CEGL000271 1.B.2.Nb.3.c
Association CEGL000274 Grand Fir / Oceanspray Forest CEGL000274 1.B.2.Nb.3.c
Association CEGL000278 Grand Fir - Engelmann Spruce / Starry False Lily-of-the-Valley Forest CEGL000278 1.B.2.Nb.3.c
Association CEGL000279 Grand Fir / Sidebells Wintergreen Forest CEGL000279 1.B.2.Nb.3.c
Association CEGL000290 Grand Fir / Thinleaf Huckleberry Forest CEGL000290 1.B.2.Nb.3.c
Association CEGL000291 Grand Fir / Thinleaf Huckleberry - Sweet After Death Forest CEGL000291 1.B.2.Nb.3.c
Association CEGL000915 Grand Fir / Pinemat Manzanita Woodland CEGL000915 1.B.2.Nb.3.c
Association CEGL000921 Subalpine Fir - Douglas-fir / Vine Maple Woodland CEGL000921 1.B.2.Nb.3.c
Association CEGL001104 Grand Fir / Pacific Dogwood - Rocky Mountain Maple Forest CEGL001104 1.B.2.Nb.3.c
Concept Lineage: [how does this related to proto-alliance A.NCCN-011 (no assocs)]

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Grand Fir: 213 (Eyre 1980)
>< Interior Douglas-fir: 210 (Eyre 1980)
>< Western Needleleaf Forests: 11: Western Ponderosa Forest (Pinus) (Küchler 1964)
>< Western Needleleaf Forests: 14: Grand Fir-Douglas Fir Forest (Abies-Pseudotsuga) (Küchler 1964)
Concept Author(s): G. Kittel, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-26-14
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