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
1000
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
6
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
65
%
Field Cover
40
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Dry oak-hickory forest is shallow, upper-slope ravine head with impermeable clay subsoil. A-horizon soils at this site have moderate calcium and moderately high magnesium levels. This is one of several proximate stands aged by DOF at 242 years, the oldest on the Cumberland State Forest. While the dominant trees are not particularly large, they have undoubtedly grown slowly under less than favorable substrate conditions. This stand is a classic Piedmont hardpan forest, with a characteristic graminoid-dominated herb layer and excellent oak and hickory recruitment.