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
18
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
75
%
Shrub Cover
95
%
Field Cover
15
%
Nonvascular Cover
5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot documents a dense stand of short-statured Quercus rubra with Rhododendron catawbiense understory. This forest is well developed on the rocky, upper north slope of Thunder Ridge and may extend for a considerable distance downslope. The Appalachian Trail runs along the upslope edge of the stand. Because of logistical difficulties imposed by the steepness and thick vegetation, data were collected from a rectalinear (10 x 40 m) plot with the long dimension parallel to the slope and positioned just below the AT, so that the trail could be used as a staging area. Oak recruitment was very sparse in the observed parts of the stand, and Betula lenta was the only common understory tree. This vegetation is similar to Quercus rubra / Rhododendron catawbiense forests of the southwestern Virginia mountains, but is more species-rich and lacks Galax urceolata and other Southern Appalachian species.
