Abstract for CNVC00031
Forest
Forêt
Pseudotsuga menziesii - Tsuga heterophylla (Thuja plicata) / Hylocomium splendens (Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus)
Douglas-fir - Western Hemlock (Western Redcedar) / Stairstep Moss (Electified Cat's-tail Moss)
Douglas de Menzies - Pruche de l'Ouest (Thuya géant) / Hypne éclatante (Hypne triquètre)
CNVC00031 is an endemic, mature to old, coniferous forest association that occurs on a variety of mesic sites with medium to poor soil nutrient regimes within submaritime and subcontinental areas of southwestern British Columbia. Elevations range from 30 to 1000 mASL. It typically has a fairly closed forest canopy, a poor to well developed shrub layer dominated by regenerating conifers, a moderately developed herb layer with scattered forbs, and a moderately well-developed moss layer. The dominant trees are Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), which occur in the canopy with a moderate amount of western redcedar (Thuja plicata). In addition to regenerating hemlock and cedar, the main shrub species is Oregon boxleaf (Paxistima myrsinites). The herbs are mostly common pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata), twinflower (Linnaea borealis) and Menzies' rattlesnake-plantain (Goodyera oblongifolia). Stairstep moss (Hylocomium splendens), pipecleaner moss (Rhytidiopsis robusta) and electified cat's-tail moss (Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus) dominate the forest floor. Forest harvesting has significantly reduced the old forest occurrences of this association and it is considered imperilled in British Columbia.
Factsheet