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 Cover
70
%
Shrub Cover
50
%
Field Cover
15
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The vegetation of this plot, dominated by chestnut oak (Quercus montana), red oak (Quercus rubra) and ericaceous (heath family) shrubs, occupies a small area on the south to southwest facing nose of a ridge where unusually dry conditions prevail. In virtually all directions, an abrupt transition to the more typical northern hardwoods of this area occurs. Prior to the arrival of the blight, American chestnut (Castanea dentata) was an important associate of the oaks and a few shrub sized roots sprouts persist. Logging tool place here in the 1920s, but no obvious successional trends are evident in the stand. Gypsy moths, currently present in small numbers, are likely to increase dramatically in coming years and have serious impacts on oaks in this area. Measured trees in plot (dbh in cm.): Quercus rubra (55,35), Quercus montana (51,33), all with minor defoliation from gypsy moths.