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
90
%
Shrub Cover
15
%
Field Cover
70
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This plot is situated on two stream terraces in the bottom of a steep ravine. The lower terrace is somewhat poorly drained and contains the stream bed, which occupies approximately 25% of the plot area. The upper terrace is moderately well drained and is partly traversed by an old logging railroad grade. The forest which occupies this site is typical of communities in the bottoms of major ravines in the Laurel Fork drainage. 65-70 year old yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) and red maple (Acer rubrum) are the characteristic trees, while the herbaceous layer contains a mosaic of terrestrial mesophytes and shade tolerant wetland species of saturated habitats. The diversity of microhabitats within the plot supports most diverse vegetation (75 species) sampled in the Laurel Fork area.