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
25
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
75
%
Field Cover
60
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Northern hardwood stand dominated by Betula alleghaniensis and Acer rubrum, typical of steep, sheltered, NE flank of ridge south of Bother Knob. Large Acer saccharum and (formerly) Tsuga canadensis were scattered throughout the stand. Ferns, particularly Dryopteris intermedia, dominate the herb layer. Three small to medium-sized snags of Betula lenta were present in the upslope part of the plot; this species was not otherwise present in or around the sample.
Large hemlock snag just outside plot. Some die-back of Hamamelis and Acer pensylvanicum. Several gypsy moth caterpillars seen (but no damage to foliage). The exotic Polygonum caespitosum is a spill-over from disturbed trail edges upslope.