Print Report

CEGL005536 Pseudotsuga menziesii - Tsuga heterophylla / Gaultheria shallon / Polystichum munitum Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Douglas-fir - Western Hemlock / Salal / Western Swordfern Forest

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This Douglas-fir forest of British Columbia, Washington and Oregon has a canopy dominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii or a mixture with Tsuga heterophylla. Thuja plicata is often present and sometimes prominent to codominant. Tsuga heterophylla typically dominates tree regeneration and always has over 10% total cover. The moderate to dense shrub layer is dominated by Gaultheria shallon. Acer circinatum, Vaccinium parvifolium, and Mahonia nervosa are usually present and often prominent to codominant. The variably dense herb layer is dominated by Polystichum munitum, which always occupies over 3% cover. Blechnum spicant is usually absent. Dense second-growth forest stands may have sparse understories with Gaultheria shallon and Polystichum munitum as the most abundant species. In Washington, this association occurs on the western slopes of the Cascades and on the eastern Olympic Peninsula. It is absent from the outer coastal strip and infrequent to rare on the western side of the Olympic Mountains. Sites occupied are low to moderate in elevation and with moderately moist (mesic) soils.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

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: No Data Available

Floristics: The canopy is dominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii or a mixture with Tsuga heterophylla. Thuja plicata is often present and sometimes prominent to codominant. Tsuga heterophylla typically dominates tree regeneration and always has over 10% total cover. The moderate to dense shrub layer is dominated by Gaultheria shallon. Acer circinatum, Vaccinium parvifolium, and Mahonia nervosa (= Berberis nervosa) are usually present and often prominent to codominant. The variably dense herb layer is dominated by Polystichum munitum, which always occupies over 3% cover. Blechnum spicant is usually absent. Dense second-growth forest stands may have sparse understories with Gaultheria shallon and Polystichum munitum as the most abundant species.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  No Data Available
Geographic Range: No Data Available

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  BC, OR, WA


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4G5

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.c Douglas-fir - Western Hemlock / Salal Rainforest Group G240 1.B.2.Nd.3.c
Alliance A3377 Western Hemlock - Douglas-fir / Salmonberry Mesic Forest Alliance A3377 1.B.2.Nd.3.c
Association CEGL005536 Douglas-fir - Western Hemlock / Salal / Western Swordfern Forest CEGL005536 1.B.2.Nd.3.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Pseudotsuga menziesii - Tsuga heterophylla / Gaultheria shallon / Polystichum munitum (Chappell 2006b) [32 plots]
= Pseudotsuga menziesii - Tsuga heterophylla / Gaultheria shallon / Polystichum munitum Forest (Copass and Ramm-Granberg 2016a)
>< Pseudotsuga menziesii - Tsuga heterophylla / Mahonia nervosa - Polystichum munitum (Chappell 1997)
>< Pseudotsuga menziesii - Tsuga heterophylla / Mahonia nervosa - Polystichum munitum (Chappell 2001)
>< Pseudotsuga menziesii - Tsuga heterophylla / Polystichum munitum (Kagan et al. 2004)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii-Tsuga heterophylla/Gaultheria shallon/Polystichum munitum (Meidinger et al. 2005) [PNWCOAST_182]
= Pseudotsuga menziesii-Tsuga heterophylla/Gaultheria shallon/Polystichum munitum Forest (Crawford et al. 2009)
< Tsuga heterophylla - Pseudotsuga menziesii / Polystichum munitum (Topik et al. 1986)
> Tsuga heterophylla / Acer circinatum - Gaultheria shallon (Kagan et al. 2004)
> Tsuga heterophylla / Gaultheria shallon / Polystichum munitum (Henderson et al. 1989)
> Western hemlock / vine maple - salal (TSHE/ACCI-GASH) (Hemstrom and Logan 1986)
Concept Author(s): Meidinger et al. (2005)

Author of Description: Crawford et al. (2009)

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 05-11-16
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  • Topik, C., N. M. Halverson, and D. G. Brockway. 1986. Plant associations and management guide for the western hemlock zone. R6-ECOL-230a-1986. USDA Forest Service, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 137 pp.
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