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
13
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
70
%
Shrub Cover
90
%
Field Cover
20
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Vegetation in this plot is a dense, stunted forest of small-diameter xerophytic oaks and Pinus pungens over a thick tangle of ericads and saplings of Acer rubrum and Nyssa sylvatica. Overall composition is similar to plot JNNF012, but the non-rocky side-slope habitat contrasts sharply with that of the latter. While fire may have played a role in the establishment of this stand, the recent absence of fire has led to dense stocking of pines and considerable mortality of suppressed individuals. The rare deciduous shrub Buckleya distichophylla occurs at the lower edge of the plot along the Appalachian Trail.