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
34
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
85
%
Shrub Cover
70
%
Field Cover
45
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The plot documents a small area of mature floodplain forest on a well-drained terrace / levee bordering Swift Creek. Similar, but younger vegetation occurs on similar site positions elsewhere along the creek. The dominant trees in this stand are primarily tall, large-diameter Platanus occidentalis, Liquidambar styraciflua, and Celtis occidentalis. Elms (Ulmus americana, U. alata) form a sub-canopy layer. The shrub layer is dense with Asimina triloba and Carpinus caroliniana. Dense shading limits herb density in parts of the plot, but openings in the shrub cover support large colonies of Chasmanthium latifolium and sedges.