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CEGL005535 Pseudotsuga menziesii - Tsuga heterophylla / Achlys triphylla Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Douglas-fir - Western Hemlock / Sweet After Death Forest

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This Douglas-fir - western hemlock forest of Washington and Oregon has a canopy dominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii with Acer macrophyllum or Taxus brevifolia occasionally prominent. Tsuga heterophylla is usually present but never prominent. The shrub layer varies from sparse to dense. Mahonia nervosa is usually present and typically prominent to dominant. Other shrubs, such as Rosa gymnocarpa, Vaccinium parvifolium, and Paxistima myrsinites, are typically present but with low cover. The remaining understory is usually poorly developed. Achlys californica and/or Achlys triphylla is present with over 1% cover. Chimaphila umbellata, Pteridium aquilinum, Rubus ursinus, Trientalis borealis ssp. latifolia, and Linnaea borealis are frequently present. Polystichum munitum if present is less than 5% cover. This association occurs in the northern and eastern Olympic Mountains and slopes of Mount Rainier at low to middle elevations (10-900 m [30-3000 feet]) on a wide range of slopes, although typically moderately steep and southerly. Evidence of past fire or other stand disturbance such as windthrow are usually present.

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 with Acer macrophyllum or Taxus brevifolia occasionally prominent. Tsuga heterophylla is usually present but never prominent. The shrub layer varies from sparse to dense. Mahonia nervosa (= Berberis nervosa) is usually present and typically prominent to dominant. Other shrubs, such as Rosa gymnocarpa, Vaccinium parvifolium, and Paxistima myrsinites, are typically present but with low cover. The remaining understory is usually poorly developed. Achlys californica and/or Achlys triphylla is present with over 1% cover. Chimaphila umbellata, Pteridium aquilinum, Rubus ursinus, Trientalis borealis ssp. latifolia, and Linnaea borealis are frequently present. Polystichum munitum if present is less than 5% cover.

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

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  OR, WA


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4

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 A3378 Western Hemlock - Douglas-fir / Western Cordilleran Bunchberry Mesic Forest Alliance A3378 1.B.2.Nd.3.c
Association CEGL005535 Douglas-fir - Western Hemlock / Sweet After Death Forest CEGL005535 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/Achlys triphylla (Meidinger et al. 2005) [PNWCOAST_179]
= Pseudotsuga menziesii-Tsuga heterophylla/Achlys triphylla Forest (Crawford et al. 2009)
? Pseudotsuga menziesii/Viola sempervirens Community Type (Franklin et al. 1988)
> Tsuga heterophylla / Acer circinatum / Achlys triphylla (Kagan et al. 2004)
> Tsuga heterophylla / Achlys triphylla (Henderson et al. 1989)
> Tsuga heterophylla / Achlys triphylla (Kagan et al. 2004)
> Tsuga heterophylla / Mahonia nervosa var. nervosa / Achlys triphylla (Kagan et al. 2004)
? Tsuga heterophylla/Achlys triphylla (CA) (McCain and Diaz 2002b)
> Tsuga heterophylla/Achlys triphylla Association (Topik et al. 1986)
? Tsuga heterophylla/Achlys triphylla Association (Franklin et al. 1988)
? Tsuga heterophylla/Achlys triphylla Association (Henderson et al. 1989)
? Tsuga heterophylla/Achlys triphylla-Dry-NWO Cascades-PNW (McCain and Diaz 2002b)
? Tsuga heterophylla/Achlys triphylla-NWO Cascades-PNW (McCain and Diaz 2002b)
? Tsuga heterophylla/Achlys triphylla-NWW (Henderson et al. 1989)
? Tsuga heterophylla/Mahonia nervosa/Achlys triphylla-NWO Cascades-PNW (McCain and Diaz 2002b)
Concept Author(s): Meidinger et al. (2005)

Author of Description: Crawford et al. (2009)

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 05-10-16
  • Bourgeron, P. S., and L. D. Engelking, editors. 1994. A preliminary vegetation classification of the western United States. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. 175 pp. plus appendix.
  • Crawford, R. C., C. B. Chappell, C. C. Thompson, and F. J. Rocchio. 2009. Vegetation classification of Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic national parks. Plant association descriptions and identification keys: Appendices A-G. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCCN/NRTR--2009/D-586. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 586 pp.
  • Franklin, J. F., W. H. Moir, M. A. Hemstrom, S. E. Greene, and B. G. Smith. 1988. The forest communities of Mount Rainier National Park. USDI National Park Service. Scientific Monograph Series 19. Washington, DC. 194 pp.
  • Halverson, N. M., C. Topik, and R. van Vickle. 1986. Plant association and management guide for the western hemlock zone Mt. Hood National Forest. R6-ECOL-232A-1986. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 111 pp.
  • Henderson, J. A., D. A. Peter, R. Lesher, and D. C. Shaw. 1989. Forested plant associations of the Olympic National Forest. R6-ECOL-TP-001-88. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 502 pp.
  • Kagan, J. S., J. A. Christy, M. P. Murray, and J. A. Titus. 2004. Classification of native vegetation of Oregon. January 2004. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Portland. 52 pp.
  • McCain, C., and N. M. Diaz. 2002b. Field guide to the forested plant associations of the westside central Cascades of northwest Oregon. Willamette N.F., USFS; Mt. Hood N.F., USFS; Salem District, BLM; Eugene District, BLM. Technical Paper R6-NR-ECOL-TP-02-02. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR.
  • Meidinger, D., C. Chappell, C. Cadrin, G. Kittel, C. McCain, K. Boggs, J. Kagan, G. Cushon, A. Banner, and T. DeMeo. 2005. International Vegetation Classification of the Pacific Northwest: International correlation of temperate coastal forest plant associations of Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska. Contributors: B.C. Ministry of Forests, USDA Forest Service, B.C. Conservation Data Centre, Alaska Natural Heritage Program, Washington Natural Heritage Program, and Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center.
  • 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.
  • WNHP [Washington Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data files. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA.
  • Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.