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
31
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
40
%
Field Cover
30
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This plot represents a small patch of fairly mature oak-hickory forest on the uplands of the Gravely Run Nature Preserve. Most of the upland slopes here have been disturbed by past clearing or clear-cutting and now support successional forests with abundant Pinus virginiana. For some reason, this stand escaped and now contains medium-age oaks and hickories 40-55 cm DBH. Stand composition is typical of an acidic-soil Piedmont oak-hickory forest but also characteristic of such forests that have not experienced low-intensity fires in a long time; i.e., recruitment of oaks is virtually non-existent, and the fire-intolerant Acer rubrum greatly dominates every sub-canopy layer. The herb layer is quite patchy and consists mostly of woody seedlings but nevertheless contains an impressive diversity of native herbs.