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
41
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
65
%
Field Cover
40
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot is located on a high, well-drained floodplain terrace about 100 meters from the main channel of the Meherrin River. Topography is flat except for a minor, shallow swale cutting across the southwest edge of the plot. Vegetation is a mature forest with large individuals of Quercus pagoda (130 cm DBH, 41 m tall) and Fraxinus pennsylvanica, and medium-sized individuals of Quercus michauxii, Carya cordiformis, and Liquidambar styraciflua. Stand age was estimated by International Paper as > 99 years. Asimina triloba dominates the shrub layer, while Bignonia capreolata dominates the herb layer. Aesculus sylvatica is present in the understory but had completely shed its leaves; its cover was estimated as if the plants were in full leaf. This vegetation continue to the river but represents a relatively small patch of mature forest embedded within somewhat younger successional stands dominated by Liquidambar and Fraxinus.
