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
42
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
15
%
Field Cover
70
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The site is a narrow floodplain between steep bluff and Potomac River. The plot was positioned on a slight levee next to river, and a linear (10x40 m) configuration was used to maintain habitat homogeneity and avoid the adjacent Potomac Heritage Trail. There are several huge sycamores in and near the plot, and a sizeable clone of Matteuccia struthiopteris is just outside the plot. Compositionally, the plot is very representative of "rich" floodplain forests occupying the higher alluvial terraces in the Potomac Gorge.