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
34
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
60
%
Field Cover
15
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: Just SE of Rt. 614 at a point ca. 0.8 km SW of jct. with Rt. 636.
Plot is situated on a gentle upland divided between two Piedmont stream valleys. Vegetation is a mixed oak forest (Quercus alba, Quercus montana, Quercus velutina) with Acer rubrum and Cornus florida abundant in the understory. Medium-aged Quercus alba (45 to 65 cm DBH) dominates this part of the stand. There is a some recruitment of the canopy oaks, as well as Carya spp. and Fagus grandifolia, in the lower layers, but these are far outstripped by the huge density of Acer rubrum stems. The herb layer is sparse, with low shrubs of Vaccinium pallidum and Viburnum acerifolium contributing the greatest cover. This forest formerly continue downslope to Forbes Creek, but most of the stand was recently logged.