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
37
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
8
m
Tree Cover
95
%
Shrub Cover
55
%
Field Cover
45
%
Nonvascular Cover
12
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: 40 m SE of Rt. 629 at a point 0.2 miles NE of bridge over Rock Point Creek.
The plot is apparently located within a diabase sill judging from the numerous dark, spheroidal rocks strewn across this gentle upland. Soils relatively high in Mg and Mn support a rather dense, young, secondary oak-hickory forest with scattered large-diameter trees, including an exceptional 80 cm DBH, 37 m tall Carya glabra that contributes > 25% cover to the plot. Acer rubrum and Ulmus alata attain highest stem densities in the understory, with Cercis canadensis, Fraxinus americana, and Juniperus virginiana also common. Sprawling vines of Parthenocissus quinquefolia overwhelmingly dominate the herb layer.