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Description: |
DISTRIBUTION: The CWHws2 occupies upper
valleys and inland drainages in the eastern
portion of the central coast, north of Knight
Inlet. Its major occurrences include the
Kimsquit, Dean, Bella Coola, Klinaklini,
and Kingcome rivers, as well as the main
rivers draining into the east end of Owikeno
Lake and South Bentinck Arm. It generally
occurs between the CWHms2 and the MHmm2.
The elevational limits of the CWHws2 range
from about 700 to 1000 m (lower in the north).
CLIMATE: The CWHws2 has a climate transitional
between the coast and interior, characterized
by moist, warm summers, and cool to cold
winters with relatively heavy amounts of
wet snowfall. It is influenced by cold air
drainage off large glaciers present at the
heads of drainages. Climate data are unavailable
for this variant.
VEGETATION: Forests on zonal sites are
dominated by Hw and Ba, with minor amounts
of Cw and Hm (more common on wetter sites).
Bl may form a major stand component in upper
reaches under the influence of cold air
drainage. Major understorey species include
Alaskan blueberry, oval-leaved blueberry,
false azelea, bunchberry, five-leaved bramble,
and a well-developed moss layer dominated
by Hylocomium splendens, Rhytidiadelphus
loreus, Rhytidiopsis robusta, and some Pleurozium
schreberi.
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