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
200
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Tree Height
30
m
Shrub Height
5
m
Field Height
2
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
30
%
Field Cover
40
%
Nonvascular Cover
40
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot captures a steep, very rugged boulderfield situated between a cliff-like outcrop and the Potomac River floodplain. Due to topographic and access constraints, only a 200 square meter quadrat was sampled. One large and several small Acer saccharum trees dominate the overstory here. The shrub cover is mostly concentrated in the lower part of the plot, near the floodplain. Herbs were quite patchy and sparse on the date of sampling (May 19). However, by September 8, the cover of Impatiens pallida had increased from ca. 5% cover (of seedlings) to 35% (of mature plants ~ 1 m tall).