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Cottonwood floodplain forest, Sand Island, Multnomah County
(John A. Christy, PSU Oregon Biodiversity Information Center)
Forested wetlands (see also Fens and Serpentine fens) and riparian forest occur on seasonally or perennially wet flats or slopes, depressions, or stream terraces. Forested wetlands, sometimes called swamps, may be hydrated from groundwater discharge or inflowing streams, and sometimes occur within riparian zones. Forested wetlands differ from riparian forest in their higher water tables, longer duration of soil moisture, finer-textured soils, and are typically flooded for several weeks during the growing season (seasonal flooding). In contrast, riparian forest usually has surface water for only a few days during a flood (temporary flooding), coarse sediment or cobbled soils that may desiccate by the end of the growing season, and disturbance to both vegetation and stream channels from flooding.
Forested Wetlands Map
Habitat: Edges of rivers, streams, lakes and ponds, edges and interiors of peatlands, or larger expanses in basins and flats
Water regime: Perennial, seasonal, or temporary flooding
Water chemistry: Brackish or fresh
Ecoregion*: BM = Blue Mountains, BR = Northern Basin and Range, CB = Columbia Basin, CR = Coast Range, EC = East Cascades, KM = Klamath Mountains, WC = West Cascades, WV = Willamette Valley | ||||
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Scientific & Common Name | Global & State Rank | Ecoregion* | ||
Abies amabilis / Oplopanax horridus Swamp Forest Pacific silver fir / devil's club (NS) |
G5S4 | CR, WC | ||
Abies amabilis / Vaccinium ovalifolium Riparian Forest [Provisional] Pacific silver fir / early blueberry (Murray 2000: 40; McCain 2004: 176) |
G3S2 | WC | ||
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Abies grandis / Acer glabrum Riparian Forest Grand fir/ mountain maple (Crowe et al. 2004: 304; Wells 2006: 54; NS) |
G3S2 | BM | |
Abies grandis / Athyrium filix-femina Riparian Forest Grand fir / lady fern (Crowe et al. 2004: 363, 423; NS) |
G3S3 | BM | ||
Abies grandis / Crataegus douglasii / Carex leptopoda Riparian Forest [Provisional] Grand fir / Douglas hawthorn / slender-foot sedge (Wells 2006: 51) |
G1S1 | BM | ||
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Abies grandis / Gymnocarpium disjunctum Riparian Forest [Provisional] Grand fir / western oak fern (Crowe et al. 2004: 366) |
G2S2 | BM | |
Abies grandis / Senecio triangularis Riparian Forest Grand fir / arrowleaf groundsel (NS) |
G3S3 | BM, EC | ||
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Abies grandis / Symphoricarpos albus Riparian Forest Grand fir / common snowberry (Crowe et al. 2004: 307; NS) |
G3S2 | BM | |
Abies grandis / Taxus brevifolia Riparian Forest Grand fir / Pacific yew (Wells 2006: 49; NS) |
G2S1 | BM | ||
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Abies grandis / Trautvetteria caroliniensis Forest Grand fir / false bugbane (Murray 2000: 27, 28; Crowe et al. 2004: 320, 369; NS) |
G3S3 | BM | |
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Abies lasiocarpa / Athyrium filix-femina Riparian Forest [Provisional] Grand fir / lady fern (Crowe et al. 2004: 416) |
G2S2 | BM | |
Abies lasiocarpa / Carex aquatilis var. aquatilis Swamp Forest Subalpine fir / aquatic sedge (NS) |
G4S4 | BM | ||
Abies lasiocarpa / Rhododendron columbianum Swamp Forest Subalpine fir / western Labrador tea (Crowe et al. 2004: 408, 412, 414; NS) |
G4S2 | BM | ||
Abies lasiocarpa / Trautvetteria caroliniensis Swamp Forest Subalpine fir / false bugbane (NS) |
G3S3 | BM | ||
Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Calamagrostis canadensis Swamp Forest Subalpine fir - Engelmann spruce / bluejoint reedgrass (Crowe et al. 2004: 421; NS) |
G5S4 | BM, EC | ||
Abies lasiocarpa / Senecio triangularis / Micranthes odontoloma Forest [Provisional] Subalpine fir / arrowleaf groundsel |
G4S3 | BM, EC | ||
Abies lasiocarpa - Picea engelmannii / Menziesia ferruginea - Vaccinium scoparium Riparian Forest Subalpine fir - Engelmann spruce / fool's huckleberry - grouseberry (Wells 2006: 40; NS) |
G3S1 | BM | ||
Abies lasiocarpa / Vaccinium membranaceum / Valeriana sitchensis Riparian Forest Subalpine fir / thin-leaved huckleberry / Sitka valerian (McCain 2004: 168; Wells 2006: 42; NS) |
G3S1 | BM, WC | ||
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Acer macrophyllum / Acer circinatum Riparian Forest [Provisional] Bigleaf maple / vine maple (McCain 2004: 119, 137) |
G3S3 | WC | |
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Acer macrophyllum / Acer circinatum - Corylus cornuta Riparian Forest [Provisional] Bigleaf maple / vine maple - California hazelnut (McCain 2004: 139, 141, 143, 146) |
G3S3 | WC | |
Acer macrophyllum / Corylus cornuta - Rubus spectabilis Riparian Forest [Provisional] Bigleaf maple / California hazelnut - salmonberry (McCain 2004: 242) |
G3S3 | CR | ||
Acer macrophyllum / Symphoricarpos albus / Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis Riparian Forest Bigleaf maple / common snowberry / northwest nettle (McCain 2004: 254, 261, 263, 279; NS) |
G3S3 | WV | ||
Alnus rhombifolia alluvial bar Riparian Forest [Provisional] White alder (Crowe et al. 2004: 351) |
G3S3 | BM, BR, CB | ||
Alnus rhombifolia / Acer circinatum Riparian Forest [Provisional] White alder / vine maple (Crowe et al. 2004: 361) |
G1S1 | EC | ||
Alnus rhombifolia / Betula occidentalis Riparian Forest White alder / water birch (Crowe et al. 2004: 359; NS) |
G1S1 | BM, BR, CB | ||
Alnus rhombifolia / Carex nudata Riparian Forest [Provisional] White alder / torrent sedge (Crowe et al. 2004: 353) |
G1S1 | BM, CB | ||
Alnus rhombifolia / Celtis reticulata Riparian Forest [Provisional] White alder / netleaf hackberry (Crowe et al. 2004: 356; NS) |
G1S1 | BM, CB | ||
Alnus rhombifolia / Cornus sericea Riparian Forest White alder / red-osier dogwood (Crowe et al. 2004: 357, 360; Wells 2006: 72, 74) |
G2S2 | BM, BR, CB, EC | ||
Alnus rhombifolia / Philadelphus lewisii Riparian Forest White alder / Lewis' mockorange (Crowe et al. 2004: 354; Wells 2006: 72, 74; NS) |
G1S1 | BM, BR, CB | ||
Alnus rubra / Athyrium filix-femina - Asarum caudatum Swamp Forest Red Alder / lady fern - wild ginger (Crowe et al. 2004: 377; NS) |
G1S1 | BM | ||
Alnus rubra / Athyrium filix-femina - Lysichiton americanus Swamp Forest Red alder / lady fern - yellow skunk cabbage (Murray 2000: 41; Christy 2004: 21; NS) |
G3S3 | CR, WC, WV | ||
Alnus rubra / Cornus sericea Riparian Forest [Provisional] Red alder / red-osier dogwood (Crowe et al. 2004: 381) |
G2S2 | BM, EC, WC | ||
Alnus rubra / Elymus glaucus Riparian Forest Red alder / blue wildrye (McCain 2004: 74; NS) |
G4S3 | WC | ||
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Alnus rubra / Oplopanax horridus - Rubus spectabilis Riparian Forest Red alder / devil's club - salmonberry (Murray 2000: 43; McCain 2004: 161; NS) |
G4S3 | WC | |
Alnus rubra / Oxalis (oregana, trilliifolia) Riparian Forest Red alder / (Oregon oxalis, trillium-leaved oxalis) (McCain 2004: 105, 123, 126, 129, 131; NS) |
G4S4 | CR, WC, WV | ||
Alnus rubra / Petasites frigidus var. palmatus Riparian Forest Red alder / sweet coltsfoot (Crowe et al. 2004: 379; NS) |
G4S3 | BM, EC, WC | ||
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Alnus rubra / Physocarpus capitatus - Philadelphus lewisii Riparian Forest Red alder / Pacific ninebark - Lewis' mockorange (Crowe et al. 2004: 375; NS) |
G1S1 | BM, EC, WC | |
Alnus rubra / Rubus spectabilis Riparian Forest Red alder / salmonberry (NS) |
G4S4 | CR, WC, WV | ||
Alnus rubra / Rubus spectabilis / Carex obnupta - Lysichiton americanus Riparian Forest |
G3S3 | CR, WC, WV | ||
Alnus rubra / Symphoricarpos albus Riparian Forest [Provisional] Red alder / common snowberry (Crowe et al. 2004: 382; Wells 2006: 69) |
G2S1 | BM | ||
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(Alnus rubra - Abies amabilis) / Rubus spectabilis - Vaccinium ovalifolium / Lysichiton americanus Riparian Forest [Provisional] (Red alder - silver fir) / salmonberry - early blueberry / skunk cabbage (McCain 2004: 170) |
G2S2 | WC | |
Alnus rubra - Acer macrophyllum / Rubus spectabilis Riparian Forest Red alder - bigleaf maple / salmonberry (Murray 2000: 42; McCain 2004: 78, 80, 90) |
G4S3 | WC | ||
(Alnus rubra - Populus trichocarpa) / Rubus spectabilis / Hydrophyllum tenuipes Riparian Forest [Provisional] (Red alder - black cottonwood) / salmonberry / Pacific waterleaf (McCain 2004: 269) |
G2S2 | WV | ||
Callitropsis nootkatensis / Oplopanax horridus Forest Alaska yellow cedar / devils club swamp (NS) |
G3S2 | WC | ||
Fraxinus latifolia / Carex leptopoda - Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis Riparian Forest Oregon ash / slender-foot sedge - northwest nettle (Christy 2004: 24; NS) |
G1S1 | WV | ||
Fraxinus latifolia / Carex aquatilis var. aquatilis Riparian Forest [Provisional] Oregon ash / water sedge (Christy 2004: 23) |
G1S1 | WV | ||
Fraxinus latifolia / Carex obnupta Riparian Forest Oregon ash / slough sedge (Murray 2000: 44; Christy 2004: 25; NS) |
G4S4 | WV | ||
Fraxinus latifolia / Juncus patens Riparian Forest Oregon ash / spreading rush (NS) |
G2S2 | KM, WV | ||
Fraxinus latifolia / Spiraea douglasii Riparian Forest Oregon ash / Douglas spiraea (Christy 2004: 26; NS) |
G3S3 | WV | ||
Fraxinus latifolia / Symphoricarpos albus Riparian Forest Oregon ash / common snowberry (Christy 2004: 27; NS) |
G4S4 | WV | ||
Fraxinus latifolia - Populus trichocarpa / Acer circinatum Riparian Forest Oregon ash - black cottonwood / vine maple (McCain 2004: 267; NS) |
G3S3 | WV | ||
Fraxinus latifolia - Populus trichocarpa / Corylus cornuta - Physocarpus capitatus Riparian Forest (Oregon ash - black cottonwood) / California hazelnut / Pacific ninebark (McCain 2004: 257; NS) |
G2S2 | WV | ||
Fraxinus latifolia - (Populus trichocarpa) / Cornus sericea Riparian Forest Oregon ash (black cottonwood) / creek dogwood (NS) |
G4S4 | CR, WV | ||
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Fraxinus latifolia - Populus trichocarpa / Rubus spectabilis Riparian Forest Oregon ash-black cottonwood / salmonberry (McCain 2004: 271; NS) |
G2S2 | WV | |
Fraxinus latifolia - Populus trichocarpa / Symphoricarpos albus Riparian Forest (Oregon ash - black cottonwood) / common snowberry (McCain 2004: 281; NS) |
G2S2 | WV | ||
Picea engelmannii / Bromus vulgaris Riparian Forest [Provisional] Engelmann spruce / Columbia brome (Crowe et al. 2004: 436) |
G2S2 | BM | ||
Picea engelmannii / Carex angustata Swamp Forest Engelmann spruce / widefruit sedge (Crowe et al. 2004: 433, 442; NS) |
G3S3 | EC | ||
Picea (engelmannii x glauca, engelmanii) / Carex disperma Swamp Forest Engelmann spruce / softleaf sedge (Crowe et al. 2004: 431; NS) |
G3S2 | BM, EC | ||
Picea engelmannii / Cornus sericea Swamp Woodland Engelmann spruce / creek dogwood (Crowe et al. 2004: 438; NS) |
G3S3 | BM | ||
Picea engelmannii / Equisetum arvense Swamp Forest Engelmann spruce / field horsetail (Crowe et al. 2004: 428; NS) |
G4S3 | BM, EC | ||
Picea engelmannii / Senecio triangularis Swamp Forest Engelmann spruce / arrowleaf groundsel (Crowe et al. 2004: 425; Wells 2006: 46; NS) |
G3S3 | BM, EC | ||
Picea engelmannii / Vaccinium uliginosum Swamp Forest Engelmann spruce / bog bilberry (Crowe et al. 2004: 410, 440; Wells 2006: 38, 44; NS) |
G3S3 | BM, EC | ||
Picea sitchensis / Carex obnupta - Lysichiton americanus Swamp Forest Sitka spruce / slough sedge - yellow skunk cabbage swamp (Christy 2004: 28; NS) |
G2S1 | CR | ||
Picea sitchensis / Cornus sericea / Lysichiton americanus Swamp Forest Sitka spruce / creek dogwood - skunk cabbage (Christy 2004: 29; NS) |
G2S1 | CR | ||
Picea sitchensis / Oplopanax horridus Riparian Forest Sitka spruce / devil's club (NS) |
G4S3 | CR | ||
Pinus contorta var. contorta / Carex obnupta Forest Shore pine / slough sedge swamp (Christy 2004: 31; NS) |
G2S2 | CR | ||
Pinus contorta var. latifolia / Calamagrostis canadensis Swamp Forest Lodgepole pine / bluejoint (Crowe et al. 2004: 462; NS) |
G5S3 | BM, EC | ||
Pinus contorta var. latifolia / Carex (aquatilis var. aquatilis, angustata) Swamp Woodland Lodgepole pine / (aquatic sedge, widefruit sedge) (Crowe et al. 2004: 457, 459; NS) |
G4S3 | BM, EC | ||
Pinus contorta var. latifolia / Deschampsia caespitosa Swamp Forest Lodgepole pine / tufted hairgrass (Crowe et al. 2004: 463; NS) |
G3S3 | BM, EC | ||
Pinus contorta var. latifolia / Spiraea douglasii Forest Lodgpole pine / Douglas spiraea (Crowe et al. 2004: 451; NS) |
G3S3 | EC | ||
Pinus contorta var. latifolia / Vaccinium uliginosum Forest Lodgepole pine / bog bilberry woodland (Crowe et al. 2004: 447, 449; NS) |
G3S3 | EC, WC | ||
Pinus contorta var. latifolia - Populus tremuloides / Spiraea douglasii Swamp Forest Lodgpole pine - quaking aspen / Douglas spiraea (Crowe et al. 2004: 390, 392, 454; NS) |
G3S3 | EC | ||
Pinus monticola / Deschampsia cespitosa Riparian Forest Western white pine / tufted hairgrass (Crowe et al. 2004: 372; NS) |
G1S1 | BM | ||
Pinus ponderosa / Crataegus douglasii Riparian Woodland Ponderosa pine / Douglas hawthorn (Crowe et al. 2004: 324; Wells 2006: 60; NS) |
G2S2 | BM, CB, EC | ||
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Pinus ponderosa / Symphoricarpos albus Riparian Woodland Ponderosa pine / common snowberry (Crowe et al. 2004: 321, 373; NS) |
G2S2 | BM, EC | |
Populus tremuloides / Alnus incana Riparian Forest Quaking aspen / mountain alder (Crowe et al. 2004: 395; NS) |
G3S2 | BM, BR, CB, EC | ||
Populus tremuloides / Alnus incana - Betula glandulosa - Ribes spp. Riparian Forest Quaking aspen / mountain alder - bog birch - currant (NS) |
G1S1 | BM | ||
Populus tremuloides / Alnus incana - Salix spp. Riparian Forest Quaking aspen / mountain alder - willow (NS) |
G4S3 | BM | ||
Populus tremuloides / Betula occidentalis Riparian Forest Quaking aspen / water birch (Crowe et al. 2004: 398; NS) |
G3S2 | BM, BR, CB | ||
Populus tremuloides / Calamagrostis canadensis Riparian Forest Quaking aspen / bluejoint reedgrass (Crowe et al. 2004: 388; NS) |
G3S3 | BM, EC | ||
Populus tremuloides / Carex aquatilis var. aquatilis Riparian Forest Quaking aspen / aquatic sedge (Crowe et al. 2004: 384; NS) |
G1S1 | BM, CB | ||
Populus tremuloides / Carex obnupta Riparian Forest Quaking aspen / slough sedge (Christy 2004: 33; NS) |
G2S1 | WV | ||
Populus tremuloides / Carex pellita Riparian Forest Quaking aspen / woolly sedge (Crowe et al. 2004: 385; NS) |
G2S2 | BM, BR, EC | ||
Populus tremuloides / Cornus sericea Riparian Forest Quaking aspen / creek dogwood (Crowe et al. 2004: 396; NS) |
G4S3 | BM, BR, CB, EC | ||
Populus tremuloides / Prunus virginiana Forest Quaking aspen / western chokecherry (Crowe et al. 2004: 399; NS) |
G3G4 | BR | ||
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Populus tremuloides / Symphoricarpos albus Forest Quaking aspen / common snowberry (Crowe et al. 2004: 401; NS) |
G3S2 | BM, BR, EC | |
Populus tremuloides / Symphoricarpos albus / Elymus glaucus Woodland Quaking aspen / common snowberry / blue wildrye (Crowe et al. 2004: 404; NS) |
G3S2 | BM, BR, EC | ||
Populus tremuloides / tall forbs Forest Quaking aspen / tall forbs (Crowe et al. 2004: 406; NS) |
G5S3 | BM, BR, CB, EC | ||
(Populus tremuloides) / Crataegus douglasii / Heracleum maximum Wet Shrubland (Quaking aspen) / Douglas hawthorn / cow parsnip (NS) |
G1S1 | CB | ||
(Populus tremuloides) / Crataegus douglasii - Symphoricarpos albus Wet Shrubland (Quaking aspen) / Douglas hawthorn - common snowberry (Crowe et al. 2004: 180; Wells 2006: 110, 112; NS) |
G3S2 | CB | ||
(Populus tremuloides) / Crataegus douglasii - Symphoricarpos albus Wet Shrubland (Quaking aspen) / Douglas hawthorn - common snowberry (Crowe et al. 2004: 180; Wells 2006: 110, 112; NS) |
G3S2 | CB | ||
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Populus trichocarpa / Acer glabrum Riparian Forest [Provisional] Black cottonwood / mountain maple (Crowe et al. 2004: 343) |
G2S2 | BR | |
Populus trichocarpa / Alnus incana Riparian Forest Black cottonwood / mountain alder (Crowe et al. 2004: 339, 349, 350; Wells 2006:64; NS) |
G3S2 | BM, BR, EC | ||
Populus trichocarpa / Betula occidentalis Riparian Forest [Provisional] Black cottonwood / water birch (Crowe et al. 2004: 335) |
G2S2 | CB, BM, BR | ||
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Populus trichocarpa / Cornus sericea Riparian Forest Black cottonwood / creek dogwood (NS) |
G3S3 | BM, BR, CB, EC | |
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Populus trichocarpa / Cornus sericea / Lysichiton americanus Riparian Forest Black cottonwood / creek dogwood / yellow skunk cabbage (Christy 2004: 32; NS) |
G3S3 | CR, WV | |
Populus trichocarpa / Crataegus douglasii Riparian Forest Black cottonwood / Douglas spiraea (Crowe et al. 2004: 337; NS) |
G1S1 | BM, CB, EC | ||
Populus trichocarpa / Philadelphus lewisii Riparian Forest [Provisional] Black cottonwood / Lewis' mockorange (Crowe et al. 2004: 333) |
G3S3 | BM, BR, CB, EC | ||
Populus trichocarpa / Salix exigua Riparian Forest Black cottonwood / narrow-leaved willow (NS) |
G1S1 | BM, BR, CB | ||
Populus trichocarpa / Salix lasiolepis Riparian forest [Provisional] Black cottonwood / arroyo willow (Crowe et al. 2004: 327) |
G3S1 | BR | ||
Populus trichocarpa / Salix lasiandra var. caudata Riparian Woodland Black cottonwood / greenleaf willow (Crowe et al. 2004: 325, 328; NS) |
G2S2 | BM | ||
Populus trichocarpa / Salix spp. Riparian Woodland Black cottonwood / willow (NS) |
G4S2 | BM, BR, CB | ||
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Populus trichocarpa / Symphoricarpos (albus, oreophilus, occidentalis) Riparian Forest Black cottonwood / snowberry (Murray 2000: 44; Crowe et al. 2004: 346; Wells 2006: 66; NS) |
G2S2 | BM, CB, EC, WC | |
Populus trichocarpa - Acer macrophyllum / Equisetum hyemale Riparian Forest Black cottonwood - bigleaf maple / scouring rush (McCain 2004: 256; NS) |
G3S3 | WV | ||
Populus trichocarpa - Alnus rhombifolia Riparian Forest Black cottonwood - white alder (Crowe et al. 2004: 331; NS) |
G1S1 | BM, BR, CB, WV | ||
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Pseudotsuga menziesii / Acer glabrum Riparian Forest Douglas fir / mountain maple (Crowe et al. 2004: 309; Wells 2006: 56; NS) |
G4S2 | BM, EC | |
Pseudotsuga menziesii / Betula occidentalis Riparian Woodland Douglas fir / water birch (Crowe et al. 2004: 313; NS) |
G3S2 | BM, CB, EC | ||
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Pseudotsuga menziesii / Symphoricarpos albus Forest Douglas fir / common snowberry (Crowe et al. 2004: 315, 317; Wells 2006: 58; NS) |
G5S3 | BM, CB, EC, WC | |
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Quercus garryana - (Fraxinus latifolia) / Symphoricarpos albus Forest Oregon white oak - (Oregon ash) / common snowberry (McCain 2004: 274, 283; Buechling et al. 2008: 9; NS) |
G2S2 | WC | |
Thuja plicata / Athyrium filix-femina Forest Western red cedar / common lady fern (NS) |
G3S2 | WC | ||
Thuja plicata - Acer macrophyllum - Abies grandis / (Oemleria cerasiformis) / Polystichum munitum Forest Western red cedar - bigleaf maple - grand fir / osoberry / sword fern (McCain 2004: 285; NS) |
G1S1 | WV | ||
Thuja plicata - Tsuga heterophylla / Lysichiton americanus Swamp Forest Western red cedar - western hemlock / skunk cabbage (Murray 2000: 45; McCain 2004: 173; Christy 2004: 34; NS) |
G3S1 | CR, WC, WV | ||
Thuja plicata - Tsuga heterophylla / Oplopanax horridus Rocky Mountain Swamp Forest Western red cedar - western red cedar / devils club (NS) |
G3S1 | BM | ||
Tsuga heterophylla / Acer circinatum / Lysichiton americanus Swamp Forest Western hemlock / vine maple / skunk cabbage swamp (NS) |
G4S4 | CR, EC, WC | ||
Tsuga heterophylla - (Thuja plicata) / Oplopanax horridus / Polystichum munitum Forest Western hemlock - (western red cedar) / devils club / sword fern (McCain 2004: 156, 158, 161, 165) |
G4S4 | WC |