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
36
m
Shrub Height
3
m
Field Height
2
m
Tree Cover
70
%
Shrub Cover
8
%
Field Cover
45
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot located in a strip of older bottomland forest between US Rt 40 and younger cut-over floodplain to the north; stand age was estimated by International Paper to be > 99 years. Site is in a very wide floodplain on the east side of the Nottoway River that is laced with shallow sloughs running through flat, poorly-drained terraces. The plot sample is located on such a terrace, which is high enough that it is probably flooded only during the winter and early spring, but dry (or at least not inundated) for most of the growing season. Hydrophytic oaks (Quercus lyrata, Quercus palustris, Quercus phellos), Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Liquidambar styraciflua, Acer rubrum, and scattered Nyssa aquatica form most of the overstory in the overall stand. In the area of the plot, Quercus lyrata dominates; formerly co-dominant Fraxinus pennsylvanica has been recently reduced by mortality and crown die-back of unknown causes. The understory is very open, consisting mostly of small trees and saplings. Sedges (Carex lupulina, Carex tribuloides, Carex crus-corvi, Carex typhina) and Leersia lenticularis are prevalent in the herb layer.
