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
85
%
Shrub Cover
55
%
Field Cover
50
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This plot documents a classic secondary, mixed oak / deciduous ericad forest on a gentle gravelly fan at east foot of Massanutten Mountain. The stand has a history of logging. However, only chestnut oaks originated from coppice sprouts; scarlet and white oaks are single-stemmed and were probably present as seedlings or saplings in the previous stand. Herbs are few and have sparse cover due to the dense, oligotrophic soil and intense competition from colonial heaths.