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
5
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
5
%
Field Cover
30
%
Nonvascular Cover
2
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The site is a steep, lower, sandstone side slope supporting a mixed oak-hickory forest with impressive species richness. The overstory is co-dominated by white and black oaks, with younger tree recruitment consisting mostly of mockernut hickory, chestnut oak, and red maple. The shrub layer is abnormally sparse, for reasons that are unclear. The herb layer is open and patchy, but with high diversity of both mesophytic and xerophytic species.