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
20
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
75
%
Shrub Cover
50
%
Field Cover
45
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This plot contains young, but extraordinarily species-rich oak-hickory forest on the brow of a low ridge spur above large cliffs and bluffs overlooking the New River. Examination of bedrock and rock fragments, as well as the strongly calcareous soils, suggest a phyllitic metasiltstone. The co-dominant oaks and hickories (Carya glabra, Quercus alba, Q. rubra) are all apparently young and of small diameters, but it is difficult to assess whether their size is the result of young age or the stunting effect of dry soil overlying shallow bedrock. Other species more or less common in the understory include Carya alba, Cornus florida, Fraxinus americana, Ostrya virginiana, Pinus strobus, Quercus stellata, and Q. velutina. The herbaceous flora is very diverse, although no individual species attains more than 2% cover. The 400 sq. meter sample contains a total of 104 species.
