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
27
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
50
%
Field Cover
20
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: SE of jct. Rtes. 692 and 614, NW of Holiday Lake State Park.
The Virginia Department of Forestry has designated this tract (48 acres) as the Upland Hardwood Natural Area, containing a representative stand of old-age "oak -hickory" forest. Signage at the parking area indicates that the older overstory trees are ca. 150 years old. However, many of these appear to have originated from stump sprouts, suggesting logging at an early date. Moreover, only a small part of the tract contains a true oak-hickory composition; this plot is characteristic of the chestnut oak-white oak/ericaceous shrub vegetation that prevails over the dry, acidic uplands of Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest. There is some recruitment of chestnut oak present. However, the density of red maple far exceeds any other species in the stand. Most of this stand is an outstanding example of the Quercus alba - Quercus (coccinea, velutina, montana) / Gaylussacia baccata Forest ecological community type defined in the National Vegetation Classification.
