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
37
m
Shrub Height
3
m
Field Height
6
m
Tree Cover
96
%
Shrub Cover
30
%
Field Cover
30
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Site is a NE-facing ravine slope with mature mixed hardwood forest. Slopes and ridge above and to the south have been recently cut. This forest occurs in patches on the lower slopes of the ravine system to the north. Most of the canopy is 32-33 m tall; a single large Liriodendron is 36-37 m tall. The herbaceous flora reflects the moderately base-rich soil, and the overall composition seems transitional between the typical acidic beech-oak-tuliptree forest that occurs higher in the ravine system and a basic mesic forest. Exotic plants (especially Microstegium vimineum) are abundant just outside the plot in the ravine bottom and in logging road beds.