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
25
m
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: Flatwoods on South side of Route 655, opposite junction with Mosby Forest Road, East of Beach.
This plot is located on terrace gravel deposits of the "fall line" and documents "flatwoods" vegetation with some Coastal Plain affinities. It seems possible that the extremely acidic soils of this site have a hardpan, or some kind of less permeable layer beneath the surface sands and gravels. An open stand of Quercus alba, Q. coccinea, Q. falcata, Q. velutina and Q. stellata occupies the site. Gaylussacia baccata and G. frondosa form dense, intermingled colonies in the shrub and herb layers. This site/vegetation appears to be extensive and additional plot samples would be desirable to capture the full range of compositional variation.