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
8
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
45
%
Field Cover
60
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot is situated on a gently undulating floodplain terrace about 50 m west of the Hyco River channel. Most of the plot lies in a slight depression or swale on the terrace, but soils nevertheless appear to be at least moderately well drained and the vegetation composition suggests that flooding is very infrequent and brief. A singular feature of the forest here is a monstrous Quercus shumardii that is 151 cm DBH and about 36 m tall. The plot was positioned so that this tree was located at one end of the sample, covering less than 50% of the area. Platanus occidentalis, Liquidambar styraciflua, Ulmus alata, Juglans nigra, and Carya cordiformis are the principal overstory associates, while Celtis occidentalis, Carpinus caroliniana, and young Carya cordiformis are prevalent in the understory. The herb layer contains a mixture of graminoids and forbs, including a few nutrient-demanding species such as Laportea canadensis and Asarum canadense. The vegetation is fairly tyical of well-drained floodplains along a considerable reach of the Hyco River.
