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
36
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
45
%
Field Cover
90
%
Nonvascular Cover
10
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: Along the headwaters of Catharpin Creek, just west of Rt. 629 and 0.49 km east of the summit of Signal Knob. Permanently marked with a metal tree tag. See form/ report for sketch. Rock types present: quartzite and phyllite boulders and fragments.
A linear band of outstanding, forested seepage swamps stretches for approximately one kilometer along the south headwaters branch of Jackson Hollow, west of Rt. 629. This plot is representative of these swamps, which typically support nearly continuous swards of Symplocarpus foetidus and a variety of ferns in the herb layer. Moderately high pH, Ca, and Mg levels and high Mn levels in soil samples suggest enrichment by groundwater inputs and/or base-rich alluvium from phyllite or metasiltstone. A narrow, elongate plot configuration (10 X 40 m) was used to avoid the inclusion of adjacent upland habitat.