Print Report

CEGL005520 Abies amabilis - Tsuga mertensiana / Vaccinium membranaceum / Rubus lasiococcus Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Pacific Silver Fir - Mountain Hemlock / Thinleaf Huckleberry / Rough-fruit Berry Forest

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This Pacific silver fir - mountain hemlock forest of Washington and possibly Oregon has a canopy typically codominated by Tsuga mertensiana and Abies amabilis. The former has over 10% total cover and the latter usually dominates tree regeneration. Callitropsis nootkatensis and Abies lasiocarpa are commonly present and sometimes prominent to codominant. The shrub layer varies from sparse to dense and is characterized by the presence to dominance of Vaccinium membranaceum. Other shrubs, if present, are low in cover. The herb layer varies from sparse to well-developed. Rubus lasiococcus and Rubus pedatus are often present. Erythronium montanum sometimes dominates a well-developed herb layer. This association occurs at high elevations in the Cascade Range and Olympic Mountains. Soils are well-drained and relatively dry. In the northern portion of this association’s range, aspects tend to be southerly and in the southern portion the aspects tend to be northerly. Many natural-origin stands occur on protected lands; however, some non-protected stands are subject to logging and development.

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 typically codominated by Tsuga mertensiana and Abies amabilis. The former has over 10% total cover and the latter usually dominates tree regeneration. Callitropsis nootkatensis (= Cupressus nootkatensis) and Abies lasiocarpa are commonly present and sometimes prominent to codominant. The shrub layer varies from sparse to dense and is characterized by the presence to dominance of Vaccinium membranaceum. Other shrubs, if present, are low in cover. The herb layer varies from sparse to well-developed. Rubus lasiococcus and Rubus pedatus are often present. Erythronium montanum sometimes dominates a well-developed herb layer.

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: 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.4 California Red Fir - Mountain Hemlock - Sierra Lodgepole Pine Forest Macrogroup M025 1.B.2.Nd.4
Group 1.B.2.Nd.4.c Mountain Hemlock - Pacific Silver Fir - Alaska-cedar Wood Group G849 1.B.2.Nd.4.c
Alliance A3723 Mountain Hemlock - Pacific Silver Fir Forest & Woodland Alliance A3723 1.B.2.Nd.4.c
Association CEGL005520 Pacific Silver Fir - Mountain Hemlock / Thinleaf Huckleberry / Rough-fruit Berry Forest CEGL005520 1.B.2.Nd.4.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Abies amabilis / Rubus lasiococcus (Lillybridge et al. 1995) [ABAM/RULA WEN COMMUNITY TYPE CFS413]
? Abies amabilis / Rubus lasiococcus (Franklin et al. 1988)
? Abies amabilis / Vaccinium membranaceum - Rubus lasiococcus (Atzet and McCrimmon 1990)
= Abies amabilis-Tsuga mertensiana/Vaccinium membranaceum/Rubus lasiococcus (Meidinger et al. 2005) [PNWCOAST_020]
= Abies amabilis-Tsuga mertensiana/Vaccinium membranaceum/Rubus lasiococcus Forest (Crawford et al. 2009)
? Abies amabilis/Rubus lasiococcus, Rubus lasiococcus phase (Franklin et al. 1988)
? Abies amabilis/Vaccinium membranaceum/Clintonia uniflora Community Type (del Moral et al. 1976)
? Tsuga mertensiana / Rubus lasiococcus (Lillybridge et al. 1995) [TSME/RULA COMMUNITY TYPE CMS122]
>< Tsuga mertensiana / Vaccinium membranaceum - Rubus lasiococcus (Henderson et al. 1992) [in western Cascades.]
>< Tsuga mertensiana / Vaccinium membranaceum (Henderson et al. 1992)
? Pacific silver fir / big huckleberry / beargrass (ABAM/VAME/XETE) (Hemstrom et al. 1982) [in Oregon.]
Concept Author(s): Meidinger et al. (2005)

Author of Description: Crawford et al. (2009)

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 05-10-16
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  • 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.
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  • 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.
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  • Lillybridge, T. R., B. L. Kovalchik, C. K. Williams, and B. G. Smith. 1995. Field guide for forested plant associations of the Wenatchee National Forest. General Technical Report PNW-GTR-359. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Portland, OR. 335 pp.
  • 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.
  • Omernik, J. M. 1995. Ecoregions: A framework for environmental management. Pages 49-62 in: W. S. Davis and T. P. Simon, editors. Biological assessment and criteria: Tools for water resource planning and decision making. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, FL.
  • Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.
  • Williams, C. K., and B. G. Smith. 1990. Forested plant associations of the Wenatchee National Forest. Unpublished draft prepared by the USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 217 pp.
  • del Moral, R., A. F. Watson, and R. S. Fleming. 1976. Vegetation structure in the Alpine Lakes region of Washington State: Classification of vegetation on granitic rocks. Syesis 9:291-316.