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
31
m
Shrub Height
2
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
15
%
Field Cover
50
%
Nonvascular Cover
25
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The habitat is a bouldery lower slope between a series of small limestone cliffs and Copper Creek. The forest is quite young and even-aged, with most trees < 40 cm DBH. Quercus muhlenbergii is the leading canopy dominant but greatly outnumbered by smaller, sub-canopy Acer saccharum. Carya ovata, Fraxinus americana, Liriodendron tulipifera, Quercus alba, and Q. rubra are minor canopy associates. The shrub layer is rather sparse and the herb layer is patch-dominated by Cimicifuga racemosa, Thalictrum dioicum, and other nutrient-demanding forbs. Overall species-richness is high (90 taxa per 400 sq. m.).