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
18
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
70
%
Shrub Cover
45
%
Field Cover
25
%
Nonvascular Cover
20
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This dry scrubby forest occupies shallow soils over flat-lying limestone on a gentle ridge crest. The stand is fairly young and regenerated after heavy cutting, as evidenced by the presence of coppice-sprouted oaks and young cedars which occupied canopy gaps. Currently, Quercus stellata and Juniperus virginiana are the most abundant trees in all height classes, although four other oaks are present in the canopy. The overall vegetation is impressively species-rich, with 87 species present in the 400 sq. meter sample. This stand also contains several species, e.g., Schizachyrium scoparium, Packera millefolia, Lithospermum canescens, Allium cernuum, Sporobolus vaginiflorus - suggestive of more open, barren-like conditions in the past.