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
26
m
Shrub Height
5
m
Field Height
7
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
12
%
Field Cover
3
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This plot captures the forest occurring in an elongate, several-acre depression between two elevated sand "ridges". The forest is floristically depauperate and dominated by Nyssa biflora. Water marks on the trees are at about 15 cm, indicating prolonged shallow flooding. Shrubs occur mostly on the edges of the depression and consist mostly of deciduous heaths (Vaccinium fuscatum, Leucothoe racemosa). Carex joorii is the only herb attaining > 1% cover. The rare shrub Litsea aestivalis is a notable member of the community.