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
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
85
%
Shrub Cover
3
%
Field Cover
55
%
Nonvascular Cover
2
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot captures a mature acidic cove forest with large-diameter hemlocks, white pines, and oaks. Hemlocks are still alive in the sampled part of the stand but have lost approximately 50% of their foliage. The increase of illumination on the forest floor that resulted from this foliage loss may have stimulated an expansion of existing herb populations.