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
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
20
%
Field Cover
90
%
Nonvascular Cover
10
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The plot documents a small relict of rich cove forest on the lower slope of the Hone Quarry Run cove at the base of Shenandoah Mountain. A reddish, highly calcareous siltstone is abundantly exposed in small outcrops and boulder deposits on the slope. This stand formerly had considerable Tsuga canadensis in mixture with Liriodendron tulipifera, Tilia americana, Acer saccharum, and Carya spp., while the adjacent cove bottom was heavily dominated by Tsuga. Extensive Tsuga mortality following adelgid outbreaks has resulted in canopy removal and openings, and the subsequent invasion of exotic shrubs and weeds. The sampled area is relatively intact and has a dense and lush herb layer composed of Hydrophyllum virginianum, Laportea canadensis, Viola canadensis, Impatiens capensis, Caulophyllum thalictroides, Osmorhiza claytonii, Asarum canadensis, and other species at lower cover.
0-2 cm: leaf litter
2-5 cm: blackish humus
5-15+ cm: dark reddish-brownb loam, very stony
Disturbance Data:
Disturbance Type
Disturbance Intensity
Disturbance Comment
unknown
Extensive hemlock mortality from adelgids in surrounding area, especially on large flat cove bottom. Opening of the canopy has greatly stimulated populations of several exotics; except for Rubus phoenicolasius, these are of low cover in the plot, but can be expected to increase.