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
55
%
Field Cover
10
%
Nonvascular Cover
5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Although this bottom is flooded for significant periods, especially in the winter (fide Darren Loomis), there is no evidence of active alluvial processes, nor is it a "depression," but rather a gentle, low-gradient headwaters with diffuse, barely developed, braided drainage and pronounced hummock-and-hollow microtopography. Vegetation composition and organic-rich soils suggest a highly acidic substrate. The canopy is overwhelmingly dominated by Nyssa biflora of variable sizes (age classes). A well-developed shrub layer is composed mostly of deciduous ericads and evergreen Ilex opaca. Herb cover is sparse, with small clumps of ferns and low cover forbs and woody seedlings.
