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:
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
80
%
Field Cover
70
%
Nonvascular Cover
70
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot located at the upper reaches of Whitetop Creek near contour of 4720 ft, in a part of the largest red spruce forest in Virginia. The red spruce trees along this creek bottom are tall and healthy with no sign of die back whatsoever. Apparently, enhanced fertility here contributes to the vitality of the spruce. The spruce die back appears to be restricted to the oligotrophic sites at the present time.
Measured trees (dbh in cm.): Picea rubens (50.5, 48), Acer rubrum (47), Fagus grandifolia (15).