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
28
m
Shrub Height
3
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
70
%
Shrub Cover
5
%
Field Cover
70
%
Nonvascular Cover
0
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The plot captures an open forest on a large, active point bar by the Merherrin River. The forest is characterized by large diameter Platanus occidentalis with large Toxicodendron vines climbing into the canopy and large patches of the grass Chasmanthium latifolium in the herb layer. The shrub layer is open and herbs are dense with a combination of tall graminoids and forbs. The soil is deep alluvium with little organic matter on the soil surface. Recent flooding has left accumulations of large flood debris (logs and trees).