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
29
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
40
%
Field Cover
45
%
Nonvascular Cover
35
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
An isolated tract of George Washington National Forest land occupies the steep, NW flank of Black Oak Ridge subtending Stuarts Run. The ridge is underlain by Helderberg limestone, outcrops and debris of which are numerous in the area. Much of the slope supports an extensive stand of young to medium-aged, second-growth dry-mesophytic forest generally characterized by mixed stands of Acer saccharum, several Quercus spp., Carya glabra, C. ovata, and Liriodendron tulipifera. Except in the driest spots, oaks are mostly restricted to the canopy and their recruitment is poor, with younger Acer saccharum greatly dominating the sub-canopy layers. This sampling site was chosen as an "average expression" of the vegetation. Here, as in many areas, Ostrya virginiana and Cornus florida are the most important small trees and a moderate diversity of herbaceous species occurs.