releve Virginia Division of Natural Heritage, see http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/documents/nh_plotform_instructions.pdf
Overall Taxon Cover Values are Automatically Calculated?
no
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Tree Height
40
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
85
%
Shrub Cover
60
%
Field Cover
60
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Maturing successional forest dominated by Liriodendron tulipifera, which approaches if not exceeds 40 m in height. Lindera benzoin forms dense shrub layer and Amphicarpaea bracteata is most abundant herb, but vegetation differs from typical successional Liriodendron / Lindera communities and Liriodendron / Amphicarpaea stands sampled elsewhere along Blue Ridge Parkway. This stand contains several herb species characteristic of well-developed, mature, rich herb guilds, including Asarum canadense, Trillium grandiflorum, Osmorhiza claytonii, Laportea canadensis, and Collinsonia canadensis.
Directions to plot and tree tag:
Park at James River Valley Overlook. Walk N along BRP ca. 500m. Look for very large (ca. 1m dbh) Liriodendron and Quercus rubra growing adjacent to one another. (Slope below road becomes less steep here). Descend to the right. Point located ca. 40m from road.
Tagged tree is a Liriodendron tulipifera of 84cm dbh with tag# 483. Conduit is at a bearing of 158 degrees and 3.4 m from tree.
Plot location selected in the field by DNH Ecologists.