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
8
m
Tree Cover
85
%
Shrub Cover
80
%
Field Cover
60
%
Nonvascular Cover
20
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: lateral spring seep on east side of Hungry Run, near its headwaters, 1.39 km east of Signal Knob Summit. Marked with a metal tree tag. See form/report for sketch. Rock types present: quartzite debris.
This plot is positioned in a narrow, sloping tributary seep which emerges from the foot of a slope and flows for about 50 meters before emptying into the headwaters of Hungry Run. Despite an elongate configuration (10 X 40 m), a few square meters of adjacent upland habitat was unavoidable and included within the plot boundary. The vegetation here is an outstanding example of a forested seepage swamp with exceptional woody diversity. Sixteen species were recorded in the shrub layer. An unusual feature of the herbaceous flora is the only known Piedmont occurrence of Trientalis borealis, a species characteristic of northern and high-elevation Appalachian forests.
Water pH and temperature data collected 2005-03-09. Mean groundwater pH (4 samples) = 5.62. Mean groundwater temperature (deg. C, 4 samples) = 9.58.
Soil Nutrient Status: medium.
Very heterogeneous soils associated with variable microtopography. Largely a complex of organic-rich sand and muck thinly overlying unconsolidated bouldery/ stony alluvium. Surficial duff is deep (>5cm) and root-rich on hummocks.
Physical Analysis (A-Horizon): 2% clay, 2% silt, 96% sand.