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
200
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
2
m
Shrub Cover
2
%
Field Cover
80
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot is in a somewhat elevated area of an elongate depression, between two deeper ponds. This habitat was formerly wooded but the formerly dominant Quercus phellos and Liquidambar died following Hurricane Isabel, presumably because of root stress. The vegetation is now characterized by dense graminoid cover, presumably by species that were present in the original woodland. As is typical in the Grafton Ponds complex, Carex joorii and Saccharum baldwinii are most abundant, but Rhynchospora corniculata is also common in this wetland. The adjacent pond to the south is dominated by Nyssa biflora.