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
32
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
85
%
Shrub Cover
40
%
Field Cover
40
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot captures a small area on a convex Piedmont ravine slope with exceptionally rich vegetation for the area. Most of the adjacent forest would be classified as Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest, with a canopy of beech, oaks, and tuliptree over rather sparse herbs and some acidophilic shrubs such as Kalmia latifolia. Vegetation of the plot area has a similar canopy, with a sub-canopy of Acer floridanum and a locally dense herb layer. Nutrient-demanding species occurring here include Staphylea trifolia, Lindera benzoin, Cercis canadensis, and Adiantum pedatum. Soils are only moderately calcareous but are completely base-saturated.