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
9
m
Shrub Height
5
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
75
%
Shrub Cover
80
%
Field Cover
45
%
Nonvascular Cover
15
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Vegetation is an extremely stunted and gnarled stand of chestnut oaks with a dense, multi-tiered, ericaceous shrub layer. Situated on an exposed slope at relatively high elevation, this forest has been subjected to multiple disturbances including fires, frequent wind and ice storms, and probably logging by the 19th century charcoal iron industry. For the most part, the dominant oaks originated as coppice sprouts. This plot was sampled in driving rain and fog, making cover estimates somewhat tentative.