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
5
m
Tree Cover
75
%
Shrub Cover
90
%
Field Cover
5
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The vegetation at this site is unique among forests on the south ridge at Claytor Nature Study Center. Situated on a northwest-facing slope above a shallow ravine, the stand is composed of large white pines (up to 90 cm DBH) occuring in association with slightly shorter mixed hardwood species. Several dead Virginia pines are present in and around the plot, indicative of past canopy-opening disturbances. The shrub layer is dominated by dense, 1.5 to 3 meter-tall mountain-laurel, with some white pine recruitment intermixed. Only eight herbaceous species occur, of which Galax urceolata is the most numerous.
This plot is permanently monumented to enable long-term monitoring and re-sampling; see original plot form for diagram. Two trees, each at the end of a plot centerline, are marked with tree tags and are 8 meters from corner stakes on the short (16 m) sides of the quadrat. Each corner is marked with a rebar stake painted white on top.