Seward Wetland Mapping Project

Chugach National Forest Plant Community Descriptions

From: R.L. DeVelice, C.J. Hubbard, K. Boggs, S. Boudreau, M. Potkin, T. Boucher and C. Wertheim.  1999.  Plant Community Types of the Chugach National Forest: southcentral Alaska.  USDA Forest Service, Chugach National Forest, Alaska Region Technical Publication R10-TP-76.  Anchorage, AK.  375pp. (download 3.5Mb .pdf)

Tsuga mertensiana/Vaccinium ovalifolium

(mountain hemlock/early blueberry)

(TSUMER/VACOVA; 28 sites)

IA1f. Closed needleleaf forest, mountain hemlock

A mountain hemlock / early blueberry stand on the 800' bench above Fourth of July Creek.

Vegetation- Tsuga mertensiana (mountain hemlock) dominates the tree

layer. In Prince William Sound, Picea sitchensis (Sitka spruce) is an

important overstory tree species and Tsuga heterophylla (western hemlock)

may occur in minor amounts. In the Kenai Mountains, Picea X lutzii (Lutz

spruce) can be an important associated canopy species. The tall shrub layer

is dominated by abundant Vaccinium ovalifolium (early blueberry). Menziesia

ferruginea (rusty menziesia), Echinopanax horridum (devil’s club), and Rubus

spectabilis (salmonberry) can be common associated tall shrubs. Low and

dwarf shrub composition is sparse and variable. The most common

herbaceous species in the undergrowth include Rubus pedatus (fiveleaf

bramble), Cornus canadensis (bunchberry), Listera cordata (heartleaf

twayblade), and Gymnocarpium dryopteris (oak fern).

Physical setting- Mountain hemlock/early blueberry is a major type at mid

to high elevations in the Kenai Mountains and in Prince William Sound.

Predominant landforms are non-disturbed, broken, and dissected mountain

side slopes, low and high relief hills, and non-disturbed foot slopes. Sites

sampled are on all aspects, on slopes to 90 percent, and at elevations to 1400

feet.

Seward Wetland Mapping Project :
Contact: Mike Gracz
Kenai Watershed Forum 
Homer Field Office
Old Town Professional Center
3430 Main Street Suite B1
Homer, AK  99603
907-235-2218

03 October 2006 13:10