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
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Shrub Height
1.39999997615814
m
Field Height
1
m
Shrub Cover
30
%
Field Cover
98
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This plot documents distinctive vegetation in a large swale situated only 135 meters from the ocean, but sheltered from it by very high intervening foredune. Unlike many False Cape swales, this site has a considerable component of shrubs, primarily Baccharis halimifolia, Myrica cerifera var. cerifera, and Toxicodendron radicans, covering about 30% of the area. The herbaceous flora is dominated by Spartina patens but contains an atypical abundance of the ferns Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis and Thelypteris noveboracensis. It is possible that this vegetation is in advanced stages of succession from wet grassland to shrub swamp. It grades into terrestrial dune shrublands on both sides.