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
30
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
85
%
Shrub Cover
65
%
Field Cover
10
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Because the herb cover in this mesic forest was extraordinarily low, we only reluctantly sampled this plot. We did so, however, because the mixed oak-hickory-ash forest vegetation was not observed elsewhere on Bobby's Ridge. The stand is dominated by fairly mature Quercus rubra and Carya ovalis, with Fraxinus americana also present in the canopy. Acer saccharum is present in the sub-canopy outside the plot. The understory is dominated by Acer rubrum and A. pensylvanicum, the latter forming a dense shrub layer. A suite of ~ nutrient-demanding herbs is present, but is represented only by small individuals dwarfed by repeated deer grazing.
