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
34
m
Shrub Height
4
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
95
%
Shrub Cover
75
%
Field Cover
70
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
A medium-age, rich, well-drained alluvial forest along a medium-sized western Piedmont stream (Mountain Run). The canopy trees (Liriodendron, Carya cordiformis, Platanus, Fraxinus americana, Juglans nigra, Quercus shumardii) are all 40-55 cm DBH and 30-35 m tall, indicating that the stand is even-aged and likely regenerated after clearing or clear-cutting. The shrub layer is very dense with multi-tiered Asimina triloba and Lindera benzoin. Unfortunately, the visit to this site occurred well after the peak of herbaceous development, and it is likely that a number of spring ephemerals were missed. Nevertheless, the dried leaves of Mertensia virginica still covered about 10% of the ground, and persistent foliage of other nutrient-demanding species (e.g., Polemonium reptans, Asarum canadense) was evident. Several colonies of Hydrastis canadensis occur here at one of this species' few Piedmont sites in Virginia.
