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:
Tree Height
28
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
60
%
Shrub Cover
35
%
Field Cover
30
%
Nonvascular Cover
20
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Bouldery, colluvial slope with sparse yet diverse herb layer. Abundant Sassafras albidum seedlings and broad-crowned Acer pensylvanicum attest to canopy disturbance, and several large gaps (50-100 sq. m) are present in plot. The number of downed boles seems insufficient to account for gaps. Dense understory vegetation limits views of canopy, but most overstory Quercus rubra have narrow crowns that exhibit some damage. Several individuals approach or exceed 40 cm dbh. Plot may represent a variant of the Quercus rubra - Carya (ovalis, ovata) / Collinsonia canadensis - Impatiens pallida Forest in which colluvium and southerly aspect (and recent disturbance) limit herb cover.
Plot location was pre-selected by the project's stratified random sampling design.
Directions to plot and tagged tree (Carya ovalis, 33 cm dbh, tag #318):
Plot located ca. 550 m SE of plot BLRP010 and ca. 300 m SSE of sag at Buzzards Roost. Poorly marked trail descends from ridge between Sharp Top and Buzzards Roost and runs along spur ridge on which plot is located.