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
30
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
7
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
70
%
Field Cover
70
%
Nonvascular Cover
2
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The plot documents a medium-aged swamp forest along a short, side tributary of Tastine Swamp. Originating at the base of a steep slope covered by beech, oaks, and mountain-laurel, this bottomland has a hybrid hydrologic regime, receiving both significant seepage inputs from groundwater outflow at the base of the slope, and containing depressions which hold water for parts of the year. Small channels run through the bottom and standing water was present in these and depressions on the sampling date. Soils of the channels are sandy, while organic deposits are deepest on the hummocks. The forest is co-dominated by Nyssa biflora, Acer rubrum, and Fraxinus pennsylvanica. There are no oaks in the canopy, but Quercus michauxii is frequent in the tall shrub / sapling layer. Several ferns are abundant in the herb layer.