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
Stem Observation Area
400
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Tree Height
24
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
80
%
Field Cover
1
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: property of Arlington Outdoor Education Association, on east slope of Pond Mountain, 2.64 km S of Thoroughfare Gap. Not permanently marked. No surface rocks present.
This plot is located on a nearly level, mid-slope bench on the eastern flank of Pond Mountain. Numerous tree scars and charcoal fragments indicate that past fires have influenced the habitat and its mixed oak/heath vegetation. The current stand of Quercus montana (many from old stump sprouts) and Quercus coccinea appears to be somewhat even-aged, with a narrow range of stem diameters, suggesting stand regeneration following clear-cutting. As is typical of this vegetation type, Kalmia latifolia dominates the shrub layer and species-richness is extremely low, with only 13 taxa found in the 400 square meter plot sample.
