Print Report

CEGL005543 Pseudotsuga menziesii - Tsuga heterophylla / Mahonia nervosa - Polystichum munitum Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available


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

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This Douglas-fir forest of British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and possibly California has a canopy dominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii or codominated by that species and Tsuga heterophylla. Thuja plicata is usually present, often prominent and occasionally codominant. The well-developed shrub layer has Mahonia nervosa prominent to codominant. Acer circinatum is sometimes codominant, forming a taller layer. Gaultheria shallon is usually present, but always in small amounts. The typically well-developed herb layer is dominated by Polystichum munitum usually with low abundance of other species. In Washington, this association occurs in the western Cascades and Olympic Peninsula, although it is absent from the outer coastal strip. It occurs at low elevations. Sites have well-drained, mesic soils and are located on mid- to toeslopes, benches and bottoms.

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 codominated by that species and Tsuga heterophylla. Thuja plicata is usually present, often prominent and occasionally codominant. The well-developed shrub layer has Mahonia nervosa (= Berberis nervosa) prominent to codominant. Acer circinatum is sometimes codominant, forming a taller layer. Gaultheria shallon is usually present, but always in small amounts. The typically well-developed herb layer is dominated by Polystichum munitum usually with low abundance of other species.

Dynamics:  No Data Available

Environmental Description:  No Data Available

Geographic Range: No Data Available

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  BC, CA?, OR, WA




Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available

Grank: G4

Greasons: No Data Available


Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available

Synonomy: > Picea sitchensis/Blechnum spicant-Polystichum munitum Association (Bigley and Hull 1995)
> Picea sitchensis/Blechnum spicant/Polystichum munitum-Olympics (Bigley and Hull 1995)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii - Tsuga heterophylla / Mahonia nervosa - Polystichum munitum (Chappell 2006b) [45 plots]
= 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/Mahonia nervosa-Polystichum munitum (Meidinger et al. 2005) [PNWCOAST_191]
= Pseudotsuga menziesii-Tsuga heterophylla/Mahonia nervosa-Polystichum munitum Forest (Crawford et al. 2009) [PNWCOAST_191]
>< Tsuga heterophylla - Pseudotsuga menziesii / Polystichum munitum (Topik et al. 1986)
>< Tsuga heterophylla / Berberis nervosa (Henderson et al. 1989)
>< Tsuga heterophylla / Berberis nervosa (Henderson et al. 1992)
>< Tsuga heterophylla / Mahonia nervosa var. nervosa (Kagan et al. 2004)
? Tsuga heterophylla / Polystichum munitum - Berberis nervosa (Henderson et al. 1992)
? Tsuga heterophylla / Polystichum munitum - Gaultheria shallon (Henderson et al. 1992)
>< Tsuga heterophylla / Polystichum munitum - Oxalis oregana (Henderson et al. 1989)
>< Tsuga heterophylla / Polystichum munitum (Topik et al. 1986)
>< Tsuga heterophylla / Polystichum munitum (Kagan et al. 2004)
> Tsuga heterophylla/Blechnum spicant-Montia siberica Association (Bigley and Hull 1995)
> Tsuga heterophylla/Menziesia ferruginea-Blechnum spicant Association (Bigley and Hull 1995)
> Tsuga heterophylla/Polystichum munitum Association (Bigley and Hull 1995)
= Tsuga heterophylla association (Stumpf et al. 2017)
>< Western hemlock / dwarf Oregon-grape (TSHE/BENE) (Hemstrom and Logan 1986)
>< Western hemlock / swordfern (TSHE/POMU) (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

  • Atzet, T., and L. A. McCrimmon. 1990. Preliminary plant associations of the southern Oregon Cascade Mountain Province. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Siskiyou National Forest, Grants Pass, OR. 330 pp.
  • Bigley, R., and S. Hull. 1995. Draft guide to plant associations on the Olympic Experimental Forest. Washington Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA. 50 pp.
  • 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.
  • Chappell, C. B. 1997. Terrestrial forested plant associations of the Puget Lowland. Draft report. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Olympia. 36 pp.
  • Chappell, C. B. 2001. Draft upland forest vegetation classification for Fort Lewis Military Reservation, Washington. Unpublished report, Washington Natural Heritage Program, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA. . 41 pp.
  • Chappell, C. B. 2006a. Plant associations of balds and bluffs of western Washington. Natural Heritage Report 2006-02. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Olympia. [http://www.dnr.wa.gov/nhp/refdesk/communities/pdf/balds_veg.pdf]
  • Chappell, C. B. 2006b. Upland plant associations of the Puget Trough ecoregion, Washington. Natural Heritage Report 2006-01. Washington Department of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Program, Olympia, WA. [http://www.dnr.wa.gov/nhp/refdesk/communities/pdf/intro.pdf]
  • 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.
  • Dyrness, C. T., J. F. Franklin, and C. Maser. 1974b. Wheeler Creek Research Natural Area. Supplement #1 to "Federal Research Natural Areas in Oregon and Washington. A guidebook for scientists and educators" by Franklin, J. F., F. C. Hall, C. T. Dryness, and C. Maser. USDA Forest Service.
  • 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.
  • Franklin, J. F., W. H. Moir, M. A. Hemstrom, and S. Greene. 1979. Forest ecosystems of Mount Rainier National Park. Unpublished report prepared for the USDI National Park Service.
  • Franklin, J. F., and C. T. Dyrness. 1973. Natural vegetation of Oregon and Washington. General Technical Report PNW-8. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Portland, OR. 417 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.
  • Hemstrom, M. A., S. E. Logan, and W. Pavlat. 1987. Plant association and management guide, Willamette National Forest. Report R6-Ecol 257-B-86. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 312 pp.
  • Hemstrom, M. A., and S. E. Logan. 1986. Plant association and management guide Siuslaw National Forest. Report R6-Ecol 220-1986a. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 121 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.
  • Henderson, J. A., D. A. Peter, R. Lesher, and D. C. Shaw. 1992. Field guide to forested plant associations of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Technical Paper R6-ECOL-TP-028-91. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 196 pp.
  • Henderson, J. A., D. A. Peter, and R. Lesher. 1985. Preliminary plant associations and habitat types of the Mt. Baker Ranger District, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Unpublished report for USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region. 74 pp.
  • Henderson, J. A., D. A. Peter, and R. Lesher. 1986. Preliminary plant associations of the Olympic National Forest. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region. 136 pp.
  • Henderson, J. A., and D. Peter. 1981. Preliminary plant associations and habitat types of the Green and Cedar River drainages. North Bend District, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Unpublished report prepared for USDA Forest Service. 48 pp.
  • Henderson, J. A., and D. Peter. 1982. Preliminary plant associations and habitat types of the Snoqualmie and adjacent Skykomish River drainages, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Unpublished report prepared for USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region. 87 pp.
  • Henderson, J. A., and D. Peter. 1983. Preliminary plant associations and habitat types of the Skykomish Ranger District, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Unpublished report prepared for USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region. 67 pp.
  • Henderson, J. A., and D. Peter. 1984. Preliminary plant associations and habitat types of the Darrington Ranger District, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region. 69 pp.
  • Kagan, J. S., E. M. Nielsen, M. D. Noone, J. C. van Warmerdam, L. K. Wise, G. Kittel, and C. Copass. 2012. Lewis and Clark National Historic Park vegetation classification and mapping project report. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCCN/NRR--2012/597. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
  • 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. 2002a. Field guide to the forested plant associations of the northern Oregon Coast Range. Siuslaw National Forest, USFS; Salem District, BLM; Eugene District, BLM. Technical Paper R6-NR-ECOL-TP-03-02. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 250 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.
  • Stumpf, K. A., Cogan Technology, and Kier Associates. 2017. Vegetation mapping and classification project: Redwood National and State Parks, California. Natural Resource Report NPS/REDW/NRR--2017/1431. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 270 pp.
  • 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.