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
19
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
8
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
35
%
Field Cover
35
%
Nonvascular Cover
35
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
A dry, scrubby forest / woodland with an open canopy of gnarled Quercus muhlenbergii and a younger, denser, mostly shorter cohort of Fraxinus quadrangulata in the understory. A few old red cedars also occur and are draped with pendulous strands of Usnea angulata, a very rare lichen according to lichenologists at the NYBG. This vegetation has very high species richness characteristic of dry, calcareous woodlands. It grades into more mesic forests both downslope adjacent to Copper Creek and upslope on the gentler ridge spur.