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
26
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
75
%
Shrub Cover
25
%
Field Cover
55
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This plot is located in a 6.4-acre stand of Piedmont Hardpan forest co-dominated by Quercus stellata, Carya glabra, and Piptochaetium avenaceum. The stand covers the crest and upper flanks of a narrow interfluve between ravines. Adjacent ridges on either side support similar stands, with more mesic forest occupying the intervening ravines. Although the floristic composition of the forest is "classic," the site is the only known Virginia example of this community type that has sandy loam upper soil horizons. No clay could be detected within 10-12 cm of the soil surface, although the particular combination of plants here guarantees that a hardpan is present in the subsoil. Most examples of this community develop on soils weathered from clay-rich mafic rocks, metasiltstone, or slate, while this site is underlain by gneissic sedimentary rocks.