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
6
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
12
%
Field Cover
70
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This plot is located on the crest of Allegheny Mountain near Chestnut Levels, south of Paddy Knob. The forest is part of the same stand sampled 1.3 km to the NE by Phil Coulling in 2001 (plot GWNF016). This stand differs from the latter by lacking a distinct subcanopy of Acer saccharum, and by having a denser canopy of oaks and hickories, as well as excellent recruitment of these species in all understory layers. Typical of this type of montane oak-hickory forest, the shrub layer is relatively open and the herb layer is fairly lush with nutrient-demanding forbs.