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
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
85
%
Shrub Cover
60
%
Field Cover
70
%
Nonvascular Cover
0
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot captures a s small floodplain forest adjacent to the North Fork of Sandy Creek. The overstory is dominated by tall, even-aged Liriodendron tulipifera up to ca. 65 cm DBH, along with lesser number of Liquidambar styraciflua. Carpinus caroliniana dominates the small tree layer and Lindera benzoin dominates the shrub layer. This may have originated as old-field succession, but is now fairly mature and has a diverse flora and well developed herb layer consisting almost entirely of native mesophytes. Stand age was estimated by DOF at 131 years (1880 origin), but this must apply only to a few scattered, relictual trees. Lonicera japonica is the only exotic present, and it has only moderately low cover.