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
35
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
6
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
8
%
Field Cover
30
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: on steep slope just west of Catletts Branch and just north of the old Dawson Cemetery, 0.94 km NNE of Beverly Mill. Not permanently marked. No surface rocks present.
This steep, concave slope below the old Dawson Cemetery supports a stand of nearly pure Fagus grandifolia. Some of the overstory dominants are impressively tall, large (e.g., 99 cm DBH), and no doubt quite old. Deer grazing may be a factor limiting herbaceous growth here, although evidence of herbivory was not noted on the date of sampling.