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
32
m
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: 0.23 km NW of the summit of Halls Point.
Rock Types Present: abundant, flat fragments of a purplish rock (phyllite?; metaduff?).
A very mature forest occupying a steep, relatively inaccessible slope that appears to have escaped logging in the early part of the 20th century. Large Castanea dentata boles are scattered on the forest floor, and a cohort of Liriodendron tulipifera now ca. 60cm dbh filled their former crown positions. These trees are considerably younger than the 80-100 cm dbh Liriodendron and Quercus individuals that are scattered throughout the stand. The herb layer here is dominated by massive clones of Aralia nudicaulis up to several ha. in extent. The slope is nearly 100% covered (below leaf litter) with flattish, angular debris of a purple-colored slate-like rock of uncertain composition.