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
6
m
Field Height
8
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
45
%
Field Cover
70
%
Nonvascular Cover
40
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Rich cove forest in the "Garden Hole" cove along Russell Fork. A cohort of large Liriodendron probably dates back to turn-of-the-century logging. Smaller Acer saccharum and Aesculus flava dominate the subcanopy and indicate the future successional trajectory. Tsuga canadensis, Quercus rubra, and Carya ovata are additional trees that occur in the canopy outside of the plot. The herb layer is lush, with extensive, overlapping cover by tall and short forbs; but total herb cover is somewhat reduced by high cover of boulders. At the time of sampling, the spring-flowering Caulophyllum thalictroides, Asarum canadense, Viola canadensis ssp. canadensis, Tiarella cordifolia, and Cardamine diphylla were prominent among the patch-dominants. The cover of Actaea racemosa, Laportea canadensis, and Impatiens pallida will be much higher later in the growing season. A large variety of bryophytes occurs on boulders, logs, and tree bases, including Thuidium, Hypnum, Climacium, and several liverworts.
