The lower canopy or forest floor includes such species as wild ginger (Asarum caudatum), sword fern (Polystichum munitum), and star flower (Trientalis latifolia) (Evens 1993; Kozloff and Beidleman 1994).

Wild ginger (Asarum caudatum) and sword fern (Polystichum munitum) are found in the moist areas of the Douglas fir forest that form a closed canopy, such as the stretch along Olema Creek. In contrast, the Pacific starflower (Trientalis latifolia) prefers a drier understory and can be seen in more arid parts of the forest along Inverness Ridge (Evens 1993).

Fauna

Similar to the bishop pine forest on the Peninsula, the lower canopy of the Douglas fir forest includes a variety of rodents, amphibians and other small and medium sized mammals. The most common of these are Trowbridge's shrew (Sorex trowbridgii), Pacific shrew (Sorex pacificus), Sonoma chimpmunk (Eutamias sonomae), deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), dusky-footed wood rat (Neotoma fuscipes), raccoon (Procyon lotor psora), gray fox (Mephitis mephitis) and black-tailed deer (Odocoileus columbianus). One of the most notable amphibians found here is the pacific giant salamander (Dicamptodon ensatus) which can be observed near streams and under fallen trees (Evens 1993; Johnston 1994; Kricher 1993).