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A3605 Tsuga heterophylla - Thuja plicata - Callitropsis nootkatensis Forest Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance contains tall, mesic mixed forest of Tsuga heterophylla, Thuja plicata, and Callitropsis nootkatensis, usually on poorly drained soils in cool and cold microsites of the Pacific Northwest.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Western Hemlock - Western Red-cedar - Alaska-cedar Forest Alliance
Colloquial Name: Western Hemlock - Western Red-cedar - Alaska-cedar Forest
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance consists of tall, mesic mixed forest of Tsuga heterophylla, Thuja plicata, and Callitropsis nootkatensis, usually on poorly drained soils in cool and cold microsites. These forests occur in the Pacific Northwest, mostly west of the crest of the Cascade Range from southeastern Oregon to British Columbia, Canada, within the maritime-influenced region where much of the annual precipitation occurs as rain. Where snow does occur, it can generally be melted by rain during warm winter storms. Stands occur from sea level in coastal areas. In all settings, it occurs where environmental conditions are moderated by the marine influence, with moderate drought and frost. Stands generally occur on all slopes and aspects, but grow best on sites with high soil moisture, such as toeslopes and bottomlands. These forests generally occur at moist, non-flooded or upland sites that are not saturated year-long.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This concept is from Del Meidinger, British Columbia ecologist. Additional descriptive information needs to be developed from Canadian plot data.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Stands of this alliance typically contain a dense canopy of tall conifers approaching 50 m or more in height. There is often a sparse to dense layer of cold-deciduous or evergreen shrubs. Generally, the shrub layer is best developed in relatively warm and moist coastal stands. The herbaceous layer is usually a dense layer of shade-tolerant forbs and ferns, but in some cases can be sparse.
Floristics: This alliance consists of tall, mesic mixed forests of Tsuga heterophylla, Thuja plicata, and Callitropsis nootkatensis (= Chamaecyparis nootkatensis).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: These forests usually occur on poorly drained soils in cool and cold microsites in the Pacific Northwest, mostly west of the crest of the Cascade Range from southeastern Oregon to British Columbia, Canada, within the maritime-influenced region where much of the annual precipitation occurs as rain. Where snow does occur, it can generally be melted by rain during warm winter storms. Stands occur from sea level in coastal areas. In all settings, it occurs where environmental conditions are moderated by the marine influence, with moderate drought and frost. Stands generally occur on all slopes and aspects, but grow best on sites with high soil moisture, such as toeslopes and bottomlands. These forests generally occur at moist, non-flooded or upland sites that are not saturated year-long.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in coastal British Columbia, Washington and Oregon.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: BC, OR, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899663
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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.Nd Vancouverian Forest & Woodland Division | D192 | 1.B.2.Nd |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Nd.3 Western Hemlock - Sitka Spruce - Redwood Rainforest Macrogroup | M024 | 1.B.2.Nd.3 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nd.3.f Western Hemlock - Sitka Spruce North-Central Pacific Rainforest Group | G751 | 1.B.2.Nd.3.f |
| Alliance | A3605 Western Hemlock - Western Red-cedar - Alaska-cedar Forest Alliance | A3605 | 1.B.2.Nd.3.f |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Eastside Tsuga heterophylla-Thuja plicata Forests (Chappell et al. 1997)
>< Western Needleleaf Forests: 2: Cedar-Hemlock-Douglas Fir Forest (Thuja-Tsuga-Pseudotsuga) (Küchler 1964)
>< Western Redcedar - Western Hemlock: 227 (Eyre 1980)
>< Western Redcedar: 228 (Eyre 1980)
>< Westside Pseudotsuga menziesii-Tsuga heterophylla Forests (Chappell et al. 1997)
>< Western Needleleaf Forests: 2: Cedar-Hemlock-Douglas Fir Forest (Thuja-Tsuga-Pseudotsuga) (Küchler 1964)
>< Western Redcedar - Western Hemlock: 227 (Eyre 1980)
>< Western Redcedar: 228 (Eyre 1980)
>< Westside Pseudotsuga menziesii-Tsuga heterophylla Forests (Chappell et al. 1997)
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