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
32
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
7
m
Tree Cover
95
%
Shrub Cover
80
%
Field Cover
40
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot is located on a lower slope subtending the Meherrin River floodplain. Although mapped as biotite gneiss, the ridge and two flanking ravines at this site are well known to archeologists as one of the largest bodies of soapstone in Virginia. Native American artifacts and stone piles are abundant. Ultramafic substrates strongly influence the vegetation, but in different ways on different landscape positions. On the higher uplands, soils are completely leached and support dry oak and beech forests with scattered Kalmia latifolia and few herbs. However, on the lower, more mesic sites, the forest is lush with spring ephemerals and nutrient-demanding species. Although heavily logged in the past, the forest has not been disturbed in decades and is in excellent condition. This plot is one of three placed to capture the full range of variation in the mesophytic forest of the site.
