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
35
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
7
m
Tree Cover
75
%
Shrub Cover
40
%
Field Cover
7
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The plot is located near the edge of a large, very wet swamp on a low flat along the Blackwater River. This area is seasonally flooded and was mostly drawn down but very muddy on the survey date. This swamp is dominated by mature Nyssa aquatica but contains scattered very large, old-growth Taxodium up to ca. 200-250 cm DBH. The plot is situated in an area that has higher than average Taxodium density; in addition, a large canopy gap from a fallen tree has allowed for more herb growth in this area than in the surrounding swamp, although it is still quite sparse. Fraxinus carolinana overwhelmingly dominates the shrub and short tree layers.
