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
33
m
Shrub Height
5
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
95
%
Shrub Cover
70
%
Field Cover
35
%
Nonvascular Cover
15
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This plot documents a remnant stand of forest on a steep, bluff-like slope above the Potomac River. Much of the Arlington Co. bluff below Chain Bridge was quarried historically, and was further disturbed by construction of the GW Memorial Parkway above. The sampled stand is situated between a cleared area below a parkway overlook and a quarried area of the bluff. The site is bouldery and steep, with irregular microtopography, eroding soil, and many dark micaceous rocks at the surface. The vegetation is somewhat transitional between basic mesic forest and rich boulderfield forest. A very large Fagus grandifolia is outside, but partly overhanging, the plot. This site was first visited on 2004-04-27, the plot location was established, and the cover of all spring ephemerals were recorded. On 2004-05-19, full cover, tree diameter, and environmental data were collected.