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
34
m
Shrub Height
5
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
65
%
Field Cover
80
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This plot is located in a sheltered cove on the Potomac River floodplain, at the mouth of a narrow, high-gradient ravine. The floodplain is likely built on an alluvial fan and slopes noticeably from the base of the adjoining, boulder-covered slope to the river. The vegetation is dominated by Acer negundo in all tree layers, by Asimina triloba in the shrub layer, and by a massive clone of Matteuccia struthiopteris var. pensylvanica in the herb layer. A number of other nutrient-demanding forbs occur at low cover under the Matteuccia. A very large Ulmus americana (approximately 150 cm DBH) is located just outside, and overhangs, the plot.