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
1
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
25
%
Field Cover
80
%
Nonvascular Cover
5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: swampy area along west side of Bartons Creek and Rt. 629, 1.77 km south of jct. with Rt. 686. Not permanently marked.
The forested seepage-swamp vegetation in this plot has unusually high species richness (n=71), perhaps because of pronounced microtopographic heterogeneity. The site is along a lateral spring seep that bisects the plot before flowing into Bartons Creek. Well-drained hummocks support abundant Fagus grandifolia, Carpinus caroliniana, and several upland herbs, while the spring run and mucky hollows support a diverse wetland flora dominated by massive colonies of Symplocarpus foetidus and Osmundastrum cinnamomeum. Microstegium vimineum appears to be a recent invader of this seep following selective cutting of adjacent uplands.
Water pH and temperature data collected on 2005-03-09. Mean groundwater pH (6 samples) = 6.03. Mean groundwater temperature (deg. C, 6 samples) = 3.95.