Intensive 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
1000
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Tree Height
30
m
Tree Cover
40
%
Shrub Cover
10
%
Field Cover
60
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The aesthetically most pleasing portion of Antioch Pines NAP supports pine / scrub oak sandhill vegetation containing ca. 100-year-ol Pinus taeda. Although most abundant species attain consistently high cover throughout stand, there is considerable intrastand variation in composition. The largest concentration of Quercus margarettiae and Carya pallida are found in this stand. Vaccinium pallidum is nearly as abundant as Gaylussacia frondosa, and low ericads characteristic of sterile sands, such as Vaccinium crassifolium and Gaylussacia dumosa, are absent. The number of herbaceous species and the presence of such woody species as Fagus grandifolia and Diospyros virginiana clearly attest to more mesic conditions than those in pine / scrub oak vegetation sampled at Blackwater Ecological Preserve. Stand occupies a very slightly sloping, west-facing ridge; slope inclination is negligible and was not measured. This vegetation apparently extends at least to the crest of subtle ridge to the east, but the full extent was not determined. Edge of plot lies < 20 m from road.
