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
22
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
6
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
50
%
Field Cover
30
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot captures a fairly typical, Southern Appalachian high-elevation red oak forest at ca. 4060 ft. elevation on Stone Mountain. This vegetation type is very inextensive and restricted to the highest ridges of the Stone Mountain massif. In addition, this particular ridge crest has been extensively disturbed by a road, radio towers, and a former Girl Scout camp, further fragmenting this forest. As in most oak forests of the Cumberland Mountains, there is virtually no oak regeneration in the stand, and much of the understory is dominated by red maple. Ferns and graminoids patch-dominate the herb layer.