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A3678 Abies lowiana - Abies magnifica var. magnifica - Abies magnifica var. shastensis Forest Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of mixed forests with at least two of these three conifers: Abies lowiana, Abies magnifica var. shastensis, and Abies magnifica var. magnifica, along with several other conifers that may also be present in the tree canopy. This alliance occurs on the eastern and western slopes of the Oregon Cascades south to Lassen Peak, California, and is also widespread at high cool elevations in the Klamath-Siskiyou Mountains and the central and southern Sierra Nevada.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sierra White Fir - California Red Fir - Shasta Red Fir Forest Alliance

Colloquial Name: White Fir - California Red Fir - Shasta Red Fir Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: Associations are usually mixed forests with at least two of these conifers: Abies lowiana, Abies magnifica var. shastensis, Abies magnifica var. magnifica, or Abies procera; however, several other conifers may also be present in the tree canopy. Canopy density is influenced by variable-severity burns or by edaphic conditions (granitic sands in the Siskiyou Mountains and volcanic ash in the Cascades). This alliance occurs from the western slope of the Oregon Cascades near the Rogue-Umpqua divide, south through the Klamath-Siskiyou mountain region to Lassen Peak, California, on the east side of the Cascades in extreme southern Oregon, and is also widespread at high cool elevations in central and southern Sierra Nevada (1983-2440 m [6500-8000 feet]). In the southern Cascade Range and Siskiyou Mountains it is found at elevations of 1500-2000 m. The climate is cool and wet with annual precipitation totals of 100-300 cm, and moderate (1-3 m) snow accumulations. Summers are usually dry, and soil moisture is dependent upon winter snowpacks, which may be heavy but of shorter duration than in the subalpine zone. Precipitation decreases eastward, especially east of the crest of the Siskiyou Mountains. Soils are usually deep and composed of deep fractured granitics or volcanic ash deposits with surface organic layers. In both cases the parent materials have weathered to sandy-textured soils. These forests occupy steep slopes in deeply dissected topography.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Codominance of Abies lowiana with Abies magnifica var. shastensis, Abies magnifica var. magnifica, and/or Abies procera in the forest canopy (30-60% in the tree layer).

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This alliance combines two previous alliances: Abies magnifica - Abies concolor Forest Alliance (A.2561) and Abies concolor - Abies x shastensis Forest Alliance (A.151), and encompasses the Abies magnifica - Abies concolor Forest Alliance of Sawyer et al. (2009).

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Forests within this alliance are characterized by a tall canopy of needle-leaved evergreen trees which approach 50 m in height, ranging from 40-100% cover. A layer of broad-leaved evergreen or cold-deciduous shrubs is often well-developed, particularly in wet Siskiyou Mountain stands, or stands which have experienced recent disturbance. The herbaceous stratum is composed of shade-tolerant forbs or graminoids, and foliar cover ranges widely in response to site moisture.

Floristics: These forests occupy a zone of overlap between forests of Abies lowiana (= Abies concolor var. lowiana) at slightly lower elevations, and Abies magnifica var. shastensis (= Abies x shastensis), Abies magnifica var. magnifica, or Abies procera forests which become more common at higher elevations. In lower elevation stands, Pseudotsuga menziesii becomes an important component of these forests. Depending upon elevation, moisture, geographic location, and site history, Abies procera, Abies amabilis, Abies lasiocarpa, Pinus contorta, Pinus albicaulis, Pinus monticola, Pinus jeffreyi, Pinus lambertiana, Pinus ponderosa, Tsuga mertensiana, Picea breweriana, or Picea engelmannii may be present. In high-elevation Cascade and Sierran stands, the understory is often very sparse, but may be well-developed in western and northern stands at somewhat lower elevations. Species assemblages are a highly variable mix of shrubs, graminoids and forbs. When present, the shrub layer is usually composed of ericaceous or, less commonly, cold-deciduous species, including Quercus sadleriana, Mahonia nervosa, Acer circinatum, Ceanothus prostratus, Ceanothus cordulatus, Ceanothus cuneatus, Arctostaphylos patula, Arctostaphylos nevadensis, Paxistima myrsinites, Vaccinium scoparium, Vaccinium membranaceum, Ribes viscosissimum, Ribes cereum, Rosa gymnocarpa, Rubus lasiococcus, Symphoricarpos mollis, or Symphoricarpos albus. The herbaceous layer is generally dominated by shade-tolerant forbs, and graminoids, including Linnaea borealis, Orthilia secunda, Chimaphila umbellata, Cornus canadensis, and Clintonia uniflora. Other common herbaceous species include Xerophyllum tenax, Bromus carinatus, Carex pensylvanica, Pyrola picta, Tiarella trifoliata var. laciniata, Achillea millefolium, Actaea rubra, Galium oreganum, Galium triflorum, Goodyera oblongifolia, Hieracium albiflorum, Osmorhiza berteroi (= Osmorhiza chilensis), Polemonium pulcherrimum, and Vicia americana. Forests in this alliance are typically late-seral.

Dynamics:  The natural fire frequency averages about 40-60 years. Following fire or other disturbance, Pseudotsuga menziesii or Pinus spp. can become established in these communities and can grow to reach the canopy, possibly persisting for centuries.
Environmental Description:  This alliance occurs in the middle to upper montane zone of the southern Cascade Range and Siskiyou Mountains at elevations of 1500-2000 m. The climate is cool and wet with annual precipitation totals of 100-300 cm, and moderate (1-3 m) snow accumulations. Summers are usually dry, and soil moisture is dependent upon winter snowpacks, which may be heavy but of shorter duration than in the subalpine zone. Precipitation decreases eastward, especially east of the crest of the Siskiyou Mountains. Soils are usually deep and composed of deep fractured granitics or volcanic ash deposits with surface organic layers. In both cases the parent materials have weathered to sandy-textured soils. These forests occupy steep slopes in deeply dissected topography.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in southern Oregon and northern California mountains. In Oregon, it occurs along the western slope of the Cascades, the Klamath-Siskiyou mountain region, and on the east side of the Cascades in extreme southern Oregon. In California, it occurs in the western Klamath Mountains, northern California Coast Ranges, southern Cascades, and Sierra Nevada.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CA, OR


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5

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.2 Incense-cedar - Jeffrey Pine - Sierra White Fir Forest Macrogroup M023 1.B.2.Nd.2
Group 1.B.2.Nd.2.a Incense-cedar - Sugar Pine - Sierra White Fir Forest & Woodland Group G344 1.B.2.Nd.2.a
Alliance A3678 Sierra White Fir - California Red Fir - Shasta Red Fir Forest Alliance A3678 1.B.2.Nd.2.a
Association CEGL000030 Sierra White Fir - Shasta Red Fir / Pipsissewa Forest CEGL000030 1.B.2.Nd.2.a
Association CEGL000031 Sierra White Fir - Shasta Red Fir / Currant species Forest CEGL000031 1.B.2.Nd.2.a
Association CEGL000032 Sierra White Fir - Shasta Red Fir / Dwarf Rose Forest CEGL000032 1.B.2.Nd.2.a
Association CEGL000033 (Sierra White Fir) - Shasta Red Fir / Creeping Snowberry Forest CEGL000033 1.B.2.Nd.2.a
Association CEGL008681 California Red Fir - Sierra White Fir / Sparse Understory Forest CEGL008681 1.B.2.Nd.2.a
Association CEGL008682 California Red Fir - Sierra White Fir - Jeffrey Pine Sierran Montane Chaparral Forest CEGL008682 1.B.2.Nd.2.a
Association CEGL008683 California Red Fir - Sierra White Fir - Sugar Pine / Sparse Understory Forest CEGL008683 1.B.2.Nd.2.a
Concept Lineage: A.2561, A.151

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Abies magnifica - Abies concolor (Red fir - white fir forest) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [88.520.00]
= Abies magnifica-Abies concolor Forest Alliance (CNPS 2017) [88.520.00]
< Red Fir Forest (#85310) (Holland 1986b)
>< Red Fir: 207 (Eyre 1980)
< Red fir series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
>< Shasta Red Fir Series (Atzet et al. 1996)
>< Western Needleleaf Forests: 4: Fir-Hemlock Forest (Abies-Tsuga) (Küchler 1964)
>< Western Needleleaf Forests: 5: Mixed Conifer Forest (Abies-Pinus-Pseudotsuga) (Küchler 1964)
>< White Fir Series (Atzet et al. 1996)
Concept Author(s): G. Kittel, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: We have incorporated significant descriptive information previously compiled by J. Evens.

Version Date: 12-18-14
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