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
24
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
50
%
Shrub Cover
40
%
Field Cover
1
%
Nonvascular Cover
3
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Dense, robust shrub layer of Kalmia latifolia and Rhododendron catawbiense beneath a relatively open canopy of Quercus montana and Q. rubra. Few boles - of either overstory or understory individuals - grow straight; most are evidently gnarled. Several snags and large dead limbs are present; ice damage and senescence and perhaps oak decline seem more likely causes than defoliation by gypsy moth. Duff layer is very thick, approaching 10 cm. Some old Castanea logs are present.
Plot location was pre-selected by the project's stratified random sampling design.
Directions to plot:
From plot BLRP059: Continue on old road, which leads slightly uphill through plot. Road winds southeast and cuts across narrow, bouldery ravine at ca. 500 m. From here proceed largely east for ca. 180 m, into oak stand with dense understory of Kalmia and Rhododendron.
No evidence of past logging. Trees are relatively large (many > 40 cm dbh) and not of sprout origin. Wind and ice storms are likely a common disturbance.
