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
22
m
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Directions to plot and tree tag: Park at first major switchback along Sharp Top road up from gate. Walk back down road ca. 750 m. Point located on NE-facing slope in Dennstaedtia zone below dense heath, ca. 75m upslope from road. Tagged tree is a Tilia americana of 25 cm dbh with tag #339. Conduit is at a bearing of 236 degrees and 1 m from tree.
Plot location was selected in the field by DNH Ecologists.
Moderately diverse Quercus rubra - Carya ovata stand with abundant Dennstaedtia punctilobula in herb layer. Plot captures patch of Dennstaedtia dominance, which abruptly ends within 50 m of plot borders. Although numerous herbs co-occur with Dennstaedtia, most are represented by one or few individuals. The relationship of this vegetation to similar Q. rubra - Carya / Dennstaedtia communities farther north in the Blue Ridge awaits investigation.