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
6
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
45
%
Field Cover
45
%
Nonvascular Cover
3
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot was placed in the narrow floodplain of a small, tributary of the Rappahannock River. The site, which is near the upper limits of small-stream floodplain vegetation in this area, probably floods only during rare, high-rainfall events (hurricanes, etc.). The forest of the floodplain contains primarily mesophytic vegetation along with a few species - e.g., sycamore, river birch - more limited to alluvial soils. Species-richness is highest among plots sampled in Phelps WMA, probably reflecting the somewhat diverse microtopography and enhanced base status of alluvially deposited soil material.