Print Report
A3767 Picea engelmannii Cascadian Swamp Woodland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This riparian woodland alliance has an overstory canopy of Picea engelmannii that is always present and usually is dominant. Pinus contorta is often present and can be codominant, while Abies lasiocarpa is only occasional and is not abundant. This alliance is found throughout the Oregon Cascades and in the North Cascades and Selkirk Mountains of Washington and may occur in British Columbia. These montane woodlands are found on riparian and wetland landforms. Elevations range from 1280 to 2200 m.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Engelmann Spruce Cascadian Swamp Woodland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Cascadian Engelmann Spruce Swamp Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: These riparian/wetland woodland alliance are dominated by conifers, with tree canopy cover ranging from 30-70%. Picea engelmannii is always present in the canopy and usually is dominant. Pinus contorta is often present and can be codominant, while Abies lasiocarpa is only occasional and is not abundant. A low-shrub layer is often present, dominated by Vaccinium uliginosum, Vaccinium cespitosum, and Spiraea douglasii, with Ledum glandulosum, Linnaea borealis, Lonicera caerulea, Salix boothii, Salix eastwoodiae, Salix geyeriana, Salix lemmonii, or Vaccinium membranaceum occasionally present. The herbaceous layer is dominated by perennial sedges or forbs. The most common or abundant graminoids include Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex aquatilis, Carex jonesii, Carex scopulorum var. prionophylla, Carex scopulorum, Deschampsia cespitosa, and Eleocharis quinqueflora. Important forbs include Clintonia uniflora, Dodecatheon spp., Equisetum arvense, Pedicularis groenlandica, Saxifraga oregana, Streptopus amplexifolius, and Trifolium longipes. Mosses are abundant and in some stands form peaty mats; Sphagnum spp. are the most important.
This riparian woodland alliance is found throughout the Oregon Cascades and in the North Cascades and Selkirk Mountains of Washington and may occur in British Columbia. These montane woodlands are found on riparian and wetland landforms. Elevations range from 1280 to 2200 m. Sites include the relatively dry edges of mountain meadows, stream terraces, lake basins, or wetter sites on the margins of bogs, marshes, toeslopes, floodplains or headwaters basins. Stands can also be found as narrow stringers along the banks of steep subalpine streams. Valleys where the alliance occurs can be broad U- or trough-shaped or narrow and V-shaped. Most sites are flat or gently sloped, with alluvial soils. These woodlands experience seasonal high water tables and sometimes seasonal flooding, and in some cases, the water table may be high year-round. In the Cascades, parent materials include granitic alluvium, or air-laid pumice, pumice alluvium or pumice lacustrine deposits. They can be deep or have an impermeable or compacted mineral soil below. Soils often have a layer or lens of organic material (but less than 40 cm thick, so not considered a peat soil) with layers of cobbles and gravels.
This riparian woodland alliance is found throughout the Oregon Cascades and in the North Cascades and Selkirk Mountains of Washington and may occur in British Columbia. These montane woodlands are found on riparian and wetland landforms. Elevations range from 1280 to 2200 m. Sites include the relatively dry edges of mountain meadows, stream terraces, lake basins, or wetter sites on the margins of bogs, marshes, toeslopes, floodplains or headwaters basins. Stands can also be found as narrow stringers along the banks of steep subalpine streams. Valleys where the alliance occurs can be broad U- or trough-shaped or narrow and V-shaped. Most sites are flat or gently sloped, with alluvial soils. These woodlands experience seasonal high water tables and sometimes seasonal flooding, and in some cases, the water table may be high year-round. In the Cascades, parent materials include granitic alluvium, or air-laid pumice, pumice alluvium or pumice lacustrine deposits. They can be deep or have an impermeable or compacted mineral soil below. Soils often have a layer or lens of organic material (but less than 40 cm thick, so not considered a peat soil) with layers of cobbles and gravels.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Riparian, seep or other mineral soil wetlands dominated by Picea engelmannii in the upper canopy.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: These associations are often small scale, very narrow in width.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: These riparian woodlands are characterized by an open tree canopy of evergreen, needle-leaved trees, ranging in cover from 25-70%. There is often a short-shrub layer dominated by ericaceous and cold-deciduous species, sometime with cover up to 65%. The herbaceous layer is dominated by perennial graminoids (primarily sedges) or in some cases forbs, and cover is usually high (>40%). Mats of mosses can be abundant on the ground surface, and in some cases can form peat.
Floristics: These are riparian and wetland woodlands, dominated by conifers, with tree canopy cover ranging from 30-70%. Picea engelmannii is always present in the canopy and usually is dominant. Pinus contorta is often present and can be codominant, while Abies lasiocarpa is only occasional and is not abundant. A low-shrub layer is often present, dominated by Vaccinium uliginosum, Vaccinium cespitosum, and Spiraea douglasii, with Ledum glandulosum, Linnaea borealis, Lonicera caerulea, Salix boothii, Salix eastwoodiae, Salix geyeriana, Salix lemmonii, or Vaccinium membranaceum occasionally present. The herbaceous layer is dominated by perennial sedges or forbs, and has cover ranging from 25% to over 70%. The most common or abundant graminoids include Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex aquatilis, Carex jonesii, Carex scopulorum var. prionophylla, Carex scopulorum, Deschampsia cespitosa, and Eleocharis quinqueflora. Important forbs include Clintonia uniflora, Dodecatheon spp., Equisetum arvense, Pedicularis groenlandica, Saxifraga oregana, Streptopus amplexifolius, and Trifolium longipes. Mosses are abundant and in some stands form peaty mats; Sphagnum spp. are the most important.
Dynamics: As with most riparian habitats, the majority of these woodlands are successional, dependent on periodic flooding events as well as fire for maintenance.
Environmental Description: These montane woodlands are found on riparian and wetland landforms in the Oregon and Washington Cascades and other mountains of eastern Washington. Elevations range from 1280 to 2200 m. Sites include the relatively dry edges of mountain meadows, stream terraces, lake basins, or wetter sites on the margins of bogs, marshes, floodplains or headwaters basins. Stands can also be found as narrow stringers along the banks of steep subalpine streams. Valleys where the alliance occurs can be broad U- or trough-shaped or narrow and V-shaped. Most sites are flat or gently sloped, with alluvial soils. These woodlands experience seasonal flooding, and in some cases, the water table may be high year-round. In the Cascades, parent materials include granitic alluvium, or air-laid pumice, pumice alluvium or pumice lacustrine deposits. They can be deep or have an impermeable or compacted mineral soil below. There is often an organic layer of organic loam, sedge peat or moss peat, except in riparian sites, where cobbles and gravels make up a large component of the soils. Some stands may fit the definition of wooded bogs.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in the Cascade Range of Oregon, Washington, and possibly reaching into British Columbia.
Nations: CA?,US
States/Provinces: BC?, OR, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899819
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.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.b Mountain Hemlock - Fir species / Willow species Montane Riparian Woodland Group | G507 | 1.B.3.Ng.1.b |
| Alliance | A3767 Engelmann Spruce Cascadian Swamp Woodland Alliance | A3767 | 1.B.3.Ng.1.b |
| Association | CEGL000380 Engelmann Spruce / Bog Blueberry Swamp Woodland | CEGL000380 | 1.B.3.Ng.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Chappell, C., R. Crawford, J. Kagan, and P. J. Doran. 1997. A vegetation, land use, and habitat classification system for the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems of Oregon and Washington. Unpublished report prepared for Wildlife habitat and species associations within Oregon and Washington landscapes: Building a common understanding for management. Prepared by Washington and Oregon Natural Heritage Programs, Olympia, WA, and Portland, OR. 177 pp.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, M. Hall, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, L. Sneddon, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2013-2019b. Screening alliances for induction into the U.S. National Vegetation Classification: Part 1 - Alliance concept review. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
- Kovalchik, B. L. 1987. Riparian zone associations - Deschutes, Ochoco, Fremont, and Winema national forests. Technical Paper 279-87. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 171 pp.
- Kovalchik, B. L. 1993. Riparian plant associations on the national forests of eastern Washington - Draft version 1. USDA Forest Service, Colville National Forest, Colville, WA. 203 pp.
- Seyer, S. C. 1979. Vegetative ecology of a montane mire, Crater Lake National Park, Oregon. Unpublished thesis, Oregon State University, Corvallis. 87 pp.