Chamaecyparis nootkatensisis uncommon south of Mount Rainier, Washington. It occurs almost exclusively above 1100ensp;m elevation and occasionally reaches timberline. Populations are generally adjacent to open habitats such as meadows, rocky ridges, avalanche tracks, bogs, and lakeshores. The species rarely grows in extensive tracts of closed-canopy forest. In 75 sample plots, 387 vascular species occurred, including indicators of both very wet and dry environments. Judging from the accompanying flora, the topographic locations occupied, and water potential data,C.nootkatensiscan grow throughout much of the range of moisture conditions present at high elevations in the Cascade Mountains from central Oregon north.Chamaecyparis nootkatensisvaries in growth form from a shrub to a tree 50ensp;m tall. Layering produced the majority of small stems on most sites; it facilitates expansion both on open sites and of shrub-form plants in the forest.Chamaecyparis nootkatensisestablishes some seedlings and is shade tolerant enough to survive under moderately dense canopies, but forest-grown seedlings fail to develop a strong upright trunk. Most trees on forest sites appear to have established following disturbance.
展开▼
