Intensive 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
1000
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Tree Height
29
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
1
%
Field Cover
10
%
Nonvascular Cover
2
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Relatively small stand of impressively but not exceptionally large Tsuga canadensis near the northern terminus of the Fife tract peninsula. Adjacent eastern slope has not been explored, but DOQQ suggests that Tsuga extends to this aspect as well. Individuals of several additional species exceed 40 cm dbh, including Liriodendron tulipifera, Fagus grandifolia, Carya cordiformis, Acer rubrum, Quercus rubra, and Magnolia fraseri (outside plot). Although tree dominance and gross physiognomy resemble those of plot PINN001P, this stand lacks the herbaceous richness and indeed bears little calcareous signature. The Nolachucky and Honaker formations include a minor chert component (as well as shale and siltstone), which could exert influence on upper slopes of the Fife tract and give rise to considerably more acidic soils. This community is provisionally classified as low elevation boulderfield forest/woodland, despite rather low cover of surficial boulders. Future inventory of hemlock forests on carbonate bedrock in southwestern Virginia may reveal the need to define additional variants of eastern hemlock forest or a new montane hemlock-beech forest type.
