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
36
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
30
%
Field Cover
80
%
Nonvascular Cover
35
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Rich limestone forest along sheltered base of slope adjacent to the floodplain of the Cowpasture River. Geologic map coverage appears to be slightly offset, with the actual substrate being Helderberg limestone rather than shale. The upslope half of the plot is covered by mossy boulders rolled from an extensive limestone cliff / talus complex on the steep slope above. An old fenceline indicates that an old pasture / clearing ended at the northwest edge of the plot. Vegetation of this stand is dominated by Liriodendron tulipifera and Tilia americana var. americana in the overstory, and by Acer nigrum in the subcanopy tree layers. The herb layer is extremely lush with spring ephemerals and other nutrient-demanding forbs, with variable patch-dominance by Jeffersonia diphylla, Hydrophyllum canadense, Caulophyllum thalictroides, Podophyllum peltatum, Laportea canadensis, and Impatiens pallida. Mossy boulders are covered by large colonies of Sedum ternatum.