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CEGL005637 Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium membranaceum / Lupinus arcticus Woodland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Subalpine Fir / Thinleaf Huckleberry / Arctic Lupine Woodland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: The canopy is usually dominated by Abies lasiocarpa or codominated by that species and Pseudotsuga menziesii. Abies lasiocarpa usually dominates tree regeneration and always has over 10% total cover. Pinus contorta is occasionally prominent. The typically well-developed shrub layer is dominated by Vaccinium membranaceum. Paxistima myrsinites is always present and often prominent. The herb layer ranges from sparse to dense and always has Lupinus arcticus ssp. subalpinus and/or Lupinus latifolius. Xerophyllum tenax can occur as a dominant. Other frequent species are Achillea millefolium, Juncus parryi, Hieracium albiflorum, and Phlox diffusa. This association occurs in the northern and eastern Olympic Mountains and northern and eastern slopes of Mount Rainier. This woodland or open forest occurs at high elevations. Sites are mostly on southeastern-facing slopes on shallow well-drained soils.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Stands with low cover of Vaccinium membranaceum and low cover of herbs are included. This association differs from ~Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium membranaceum Rocky Mountain Forest (CEGL000341)$$ in the eastern Cascades by the presence of Lupinus arcticus ssp. subalpinus and/or Lupinus latifolius, and the lack or low abundance of more east Cascades indicators such as Picea engelmannii, Vaccinium scoparium, and Calamagrostis rubescens.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: The canopy is usually dominated by Abies lasiocarpa or codominated by that species and Pseudotsuga menziesii. Abies lasiocarpa usually dominates tree regeneration and always has over 10% total cover. Pinus contorta is occasionally prominent. The typically well-developed shrub layer is dominated by Vaccinium membranaceum. Paxistima myrsinites (= Pachistima myrsinites) is always present and often prominent. The herb layer ranges from sparse to dense and always has Lupinus arcticus ssp. subalpinus and/or Lupinus latifolius. Xerophyllum tenax can occur as a dominant. Other frequent species are Achillea millefolium, Juncus parryi, Hieracium albiflorum, and Phlox diffusa.

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

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  WA


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3

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.Nb Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Division D194 1.B.2.Nb
Macrogroup 1.B.2.Nb.5 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce - Whitebark Pine Rocky Mountain Forest Macrogroup M020 1.B.2.Nb.5
Group 1.B.2.Nb.5.c Engelmann Spruce - Subalpine Fir - Mountain Hemlock Moist Forest & Woodland Group G218 1.B.2.Nb.5.c
Alliance A3614 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce Rocky Mountain Moist Forest Alliance A3614 1.B.2.Nb.5.c
Association CEGL005637 Subalpine Fir / Thinleaf Huckleberry / Arctic Lupine Woodland CEGL005637 1.B.2.Nb.5.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Abies lasiocarpa-Tsuga mertensiana/Vaccinium membranaceum Community Type (Dose) (Henderson et al. 1979)
= Abies lasiocarpa/Vaccinium membranaceum/Lupinus (arcticus ssp. subalpinus, latifolius) Woodland (Crawford et al. 2009) [PNWCOAST_032]
= Abies lasiocarpa/Vaccinium membranaceum Association (Henderson et al. 1989)
= Abies lasiocarpa/Vaccinium membranceum/Lupinus arcticus ssp. subalpinus Woodland (Meidinger et al. 2005) [PNWCOAST_032]
Concept Author(s): D. Meidinger et al. (2005)

Author of Description: Crawford et al. (2009)

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 02-07-17
  • 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.
  • Henderson, J. A., B. G. Smith, and R. L. Mauk. 1979. Plant communities of the Hoh and Dosewallips drainages, Olympic National Park, Washington. Unpublished progress report. Department of Forestry and Outdoor Recreation, Utah State University, Logan.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.