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
28
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
2
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
70
%
Field Cover
65
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Forested seepage swamp in ravine bottom, about 30 meters wide and continuing up and downstream from plot location. The shrub layer is moderately dense and herbs are lush and diverse. The vegetation abruptly changes to Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest on the adjacent, steep, slopes. Several sand-bottomed channels meander through the swamp and were flowing with water at the time of survey. Although primarily influenced by groundwater seepage, this wetland appears to be subject to occasional overland flooding as well, and recent flooding had left accumulations of leaf litter and other organic debris. This community is an example of a rare Coastal Plain basic seepage swamp in which soils and vegetation are influenced by calcareous groundwater emanating through underlying shell deposits.