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
28
m
Shrub Height
5
m
Field Height
6
m
Tree Cover
95
%
Shrub Cover
4
%
Field Cover
95
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This plot is representative of an extensive and very rich forests occupying a large cove on the north flank of Clinch Mountain, west of Rt 80 and Hayters Gap. Most of the slopes in this cove are exceedingly steep, with deep, loose, friable soils. The particular plot location was chosen because it is less steep than most comparable sites and could be sampled without excessively damaging the soils and herbaceous vegetation. Underlying bedrock is red, highly calcareous siltstone of the Juniata Formation, and soils have high fertility and water-holding capacity. The forest is a mixed mesophytic stand of Aesculus flava, Acer saccharum, and Fraxinus americana that regenerated after logging decades ago. Scattered Prunus serotina and Robinia pseudoacacia also co-occur as relicts of the past disturbance. Outside the plot, Tilia americana var. heterophylla and Carya cordiformis are often important in the stand. The herb layer is very lush, with nearly 100% cover by a number of nutrient-demanding forbs. Spring ephemerals such as Dicentra canadensis were on their way out, and may be more abundant earlier in the spring.
Logged decades ago. Old logging road just upslope from plot. Deer browse appears to be more frequent on this relatively gentle slope, compared to steeper areas nearby.
