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
5
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
85
%
Field Cover
10
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The plot was placed on a slope on the west side of low gap between two coves. The centerline was positioned along the spine of an east-facing spur, encompassing short slopes on both the north and south sides. The site is part of a relatively small area, extending onto the slope on the east side of the gap, where the forest understory is dominated by Rhododendron catawbiense. This grades downslope into acidic cove forests with Rhododendron maximum-dominated shrub layers. Scarlet oak is the principal canopy dominant, but larger (and probably older) chestnut oaks are also present. The plot sample has somewhat higher species richness than the rest of the stand because of breaks in the rhododendron cover on the south side of the spur.
