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
3
m
Field Height
4
m
Tree Cover
85
%
Shrub Cover
80
%
Field Cover
50
%
Nonvascular Cover
40
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot located in bouldery bottom of cove on north slope of Naked Mountain. Property boundary is just downslope from plot, and rock piles along with smaller-diameter, even-aged Liriodendron on other side of boundary line indicate a change of historical land use. In all liklihood, fields fields were cleared historically right up to this boundary, where the slope abruptly steepens and becomes much rockier. The forest in the plot is considerably older, although it also represents ~ even-age regeneration, probably following logging. Liriodendron is the leading canopy dominant, followed by Tilia americana and Fraxinus americana. Lindera benzoin forms a dense shrub layer, while various nutrient-demanding forbs make up an herb layer whose density is somewhat limited by the cover of boulders. Similar vegetation occupies two coves to the east, with oak-hickory forest on the interfluves. Asimina triloba and Deparia acrostichoides are common in the other coves, but not here.