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
35
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
75
%
Shrub Cover
80
%
Field Cover
60
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
A somewhat poorly-drained floodplain forest with an even-aged overstory and a heavily fern-dominated herb layer. Canopy dominance is shared by Platanus occidentalis, Betula nigra, Liriodendron tulipifera, Acer rubrum, and Liquidambar styraciflua, the latter three also recruiting heavily into the understory. The even-aged character of this forest, as well as the relatively high cover of Lonicera japonica indicate that the stand regenerated on open land or following very heavy disturbance. The site is located on a fan of alluvium at the mouth of a ravine tributary of Mount Creek. To the south, the slightly lower floodplain terrace along Mount Creek has been opened up by beavers and supports shrubby, seasonally flooded vegetation.