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
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Shrub Height
3
m
Field Height
1
m
Shrub Cover
5
%
Field Cover
99
%
Nonvascular Cover
25
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Fen-like vegetation occurs here on a permanently saturated toe slope just above the floodplain of Mill Creek in a narrow mountain valley. The site has moderate cover of shrubs, including Salix sericea, Lindera benzoin, and Cornus amomum, but the dominant herbaceous species include Caltha palustris, Carex bromoides ssp. bromoides, Impatiens capensis, Leersia oryzoides, Hydrocotyle americana, and Carex atlantica. The state-rare fern Equisetum sylvaticum is fairly common here, although it prefers the more shaded edges of the wetland. A number of other calciphiles occur here, including Pedicularis lanceolata and Symphyotrichum praealtum var. angustior (also state-rare). The origin of this open wetland and the factors that have maintained it are unclear. The Mill Creek valley has an obvious history of clearing, grazing, beavers, and other disturbance, but it seems possible that this part of the wetland is a relict of more natural fens that may have once been more extensive.
