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
25
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
70
%
Shrub Cover
70
%
Field Cover
45
%
Nonvascular Cover
60
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This plot was placed in a nearly pure stand of Picea rubens on the flat crest of the ridge spur running NE from the summit of Whitetop Mountain. Situated at 5260 ft elevation, this is a classic Southern Appalachian spruce forest with a mostly deciduous shrub layer (excluding abundant recruitment of Picea saplings), a well-developed herb layer, and diverse and dense ground cover by bryophytes. Fagus grandifolia and Betula allegheniensis are both scattered in the stand, mostly as sub-caonpy trees. The stand is healthy with little mortality; the largest Picea are in the 50-60 cm DBH class. Bazzania trilobata is the most common nonvascular species.
