Silver maples are downslope, rooted in water. Upslope is a levee forest dominated by bitternut hickory. Beyond that on 100 year floodplain are successional forests of various ages ranging from doghair boxelder thickets to weedy sycamore and walnut woodlands and forests.;Sloping floodplain bank of Potomac River. Alluvial silt and flotsam depositio and retarded herb growth are indicators of recent flooding. River is still pumping at sample date. Community is a deciduous forest dominated by large sycamore, silver maple, and Shumard oak over a subcanopy dominated by box elder. Herb layer will probably be dominated by exotic weeds later in season. Above flooded line are patches of bluebells in bloom.
Representativeness
Narrow zone of floodplain forest above water line at sample date and below recent high flotsam line. Extends up and down stream along this reach. Herb cover is higher later in season. Early spring sample, but tree canopy cover estimated as leaf-on. Plot r