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
5
m
Field Height
8
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
35
%
Field Cover
90
%
Nonvascular Cover
30
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This plot captures the most mature stand of the rich cove forest in the Garden Hole cove along Russell Fork (see also plot BISP001). It is a relatively small stand that likely escaped cutting during the heyday of logging here around the beginning of the 20th century. Large-diameter Aesculus flava, Fagus grandifolia, Acer saccharum, and Fraxinus americana dominate the canopy, while Acer nigrum and Aesculus flava are most important in the understory. The herb layer is spectacular and lush, with no exotics. This stand probably represents the climax forest of the Garden Hole.