Abstract for CNVC00022


Chamaecyparis nootkatensis - Tsuga mertensiana / Calamagrostis nutkaensis

Yellow-cedar - Mountain Hemlock / Nootka Reedgrass
Cyprès jaune - Pruche subalpine / Calamagrostide de Nootka

CNVC00022 occurs in subalpine areas of the wet, hypermaritime climate of the outer mainland British Columbia coast and Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands). It occurs at elevations between approximately 300 m and 1100 mASL on medium to rich, colluvial or morainal soils with strong seepage influence due to steep slopes and high precipitation inputs. Yellow-cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis) dominates the well-developed but somewhat scrubby canopy, with varying amounts of mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana) and shore pine (Pinus contorta var. contorta). The shrub layer is mostly tree regeneration. Consistent species in the poorly developed herb layer include Nootka reedgrass (Calamagrostis nutkaensis), running clubmoss (Lycopodium clavatum), rose twisted-stalk (Streptopus lanceolatus), alpine firmoss (Huperzia haleakalae), deer fern (Blechnum spicant) and green false hellebore (Veratrum viride). The most common species in the moss layer are Bolander's earwort (Scapania bolanderi), lanky moss (Rhytidiadelphus loreus), and stairstep moss (Hylocomium splendens).