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
30
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
25
m
Tree Cover
70
%
Shrub Cover
25
%
Field Cover
50
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This site is a small area of sub-level forested upland that likely has an impervious clay subsoil and general soil conditions that alternate between waterlogged and droughty. The soil was saturated at time of survey. Quercus stellata (post oak) is the leading overstory dominant, with some Quercus alba, Carya glabra, and Fraxinus americana also present. Carya glabra and Ulmus alata are common in the understory, and the herb layer is characterized by colonial graminoids. This type of forest is fairly typical of hardpan sites in the central Piedmont, but this stand is somewhat unique in having Carex albicans var. australis as the dominant herbaceous species (Piptochaetium avenaceum and Scleria oligantha are dominants at most sites). Much of the adjacent stand was recently clearcut but this area may have been left due to the somewhat stunted and poor form of the prevalent post oaks. This stand has been aged at ca. 155 years (origin = 1956) by DOF, and thus is quite old for a Piedmont forest, although it has undoubtedly seen various disturbances over this time.
