Port Orford Cedar RNA

Port Orford Cedar Research Natural Area (RNA) was established to represent virgin old growth Port Orford cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana) forest. The topography is generally rugged except in the south central portion which includes a high bench with several small swamps.  The slopes break abruptly into Johnson Creek and the south fork of the Coquille River. Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga) and Port Orford cedar are the dominant tree species throughout the RNA. Lowland white fir (Abies concolor), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), western redcedar (Thuja plicata), and sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana) are also common throughout the RNA. Salal (Gaultheria shallon), sword fern (Macrothelypteris torresiana), huckleberry (Vaccinium), small hardwoods, azalea (Azalea californica), and Oregon grape (Berberis) are common understory species.