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
5
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
4
%
Field Cover
80
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This vegetation is a rich montane oak-hickory forest that is characteristic of the upper southeast slopes and crest of Crawford Mountain above 3000 feet elevation. The plot area is a relatively undisturbed fragment of an extensive stand that is generally overrun with exotics, especially Alliaria petiolata. The co-dominance of basswood in the sample canopy is somewhat atypical. Oaks are restricted to the overstory and most younger tree recruitment is of basswood and hickories. A large fallen snag and well-knotted, coarse woody debris are present. The herb layer is very lush with variable patch-dominance of several colonial, nutrient-demanding forbs.