Description
Herbaceous balds occur in the driest sites in lowland that support continuous vegetation, generally south- to west-facing gentle slopes and have bedrock at very shallow or sandy/gravelly soils. They occur in small patches and dry topographic positions. Historically, Native Americans burned lands, which is known as an important management factor of these herbaceous sites. Well-known examples of these herbaceous balds are the Arbutus menziesii (madrone), and Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas-fir). Balds are particularly significant on biodiversity conservation since these small area balds tend to have high plant species diversity and have the ability to support plant species that do not grow elsewhere. Since these balds are rare landscape in western Washington, they are very appealing landscape.
Distribution
Nation: United States
United States Distribution: OR, WA
Nation: Canada
Canadian Province Distribution: BC
Global Range: This system occurs in the Willamette Valley, Puget Trough, Georgia Basin, eastern and northern Olympic Mountains, eastern side of Vancouver Island, western and northwestern Cascades of Washington, probably on the leeward side of the Coast Mountains in British Columbia (submaritime climates)?, Old Cascades of western Oregon, and Oregon Coast Ranges (but not the coast itself).
United States Distribution: OR, WA
Nation: Canada
Canadian Province Distribution: BC
Global Range: This system occurs in the Willamette Valley, Puget Trough, Georgia Basin, eastern and northern Olympic Mountains, eastern side of Vancouver Island, western and northwestern Cascades of Washington, probably on the leeward side of the Coast Mountains in British Columbia (submaritime climates)?, Old Cascades of western Oregon, and Oregon Coast Ranges (but not the coast itself).