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
33
m
Shrub Height
5
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
85
%
Shrub Cover
25
%
Field Cover
80
%
Nonvascular Cover
0
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The plot was placed to capture a fairly extensive "backswamp" in a broad Piedmont floodplain along Turkey Run. A narrow configuration (13.33 x 30 m) was used, with the long axis running down a distinct slough that was inundated on an earlier visit (2011-04-29) but drawn down (still moist) on the sampling date. Alluvial soils here are washed from calcareous siltstone and diabase of the surround Culpeper Basin, and have high fertility. Moderate-sized Fraxinus pennsylvanica dominate the slough forest, but the largest trees are massive specimens of Quercus palustris. There is a surprisingly large amount of sapling recruitment of this oak in the understory. Sedges, particularly Carex grayi, and Impatiens capensis are the most abundant patch-dominants of a dense herb layer. To the west, the "backswamp" continues but is not as wet and supports a more even-aged stand of Acer rubrum, Fraxinus, and Quercus palustris suggestive of old-field succession. To the east, the floodplain rises onto a broad stream-side levee / terrace that supports rich, well-drained floodplain forest (see plot FAUQ004).
