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
32
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
75
%
Shrub Cover
25
%
Field Cover
40
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot is representative of a large, deeply flooded swamp that had only recently drawn down on the date of this survey. The habitat is located on a tributary of the Northwest River and represents a distinct drainage through an extensive area of seasonally wet flatwoods. There is no obvious stream channel, but Corbicula shells where noted on the soil surface, indicating periodic overland flooding. The dominant Nyssa trees are buttressed and the canopy is of mixed age (size) classes. The canopy is shared by Nyssa biflora and N. aquatica, with frequent Populus heterophylla associated; Acer rubrum is a common subcanopy tree and Fraxinus caroliniana is the most common small tree / shrub. Boehmeria cylindrica is the most abundant herb. Interestingly, no Taxodium distichum was found anywhere in this swamp.
