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
34
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
30
%
Field Cover
8
%
Nonvascular Cover
10
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: wooded slope ca. 0.17 km east of Rt. 629 and 0.98 km ENE of Signal Knob Summit. Permanently marked with a metal tree tag. See form/report for sketch. Rock types present: phyllite (very micaceous) and quartzite debris.
This plot documents a dryish, middle-slope mixed oak / oak-hickory forest. Most trees are medium-size but occasional oaks with diameters approaching 1.0 meter are scattered in the area. Although still one of the dominant understory trees, Cornus florida has been greatly reduced in recent years by the fungal pathogen dogwood anthracnose. Heavy herbivory by white-tailed deer has greatly reduced the stature of many herbs in this plot. The following plants from this plot were noticeably damaged by herbivory: Cornus florida, Eurybia divaricata, Symphyotrichum lateriflorum, Carex cephalophora, Carex laxiflora, Desmodium nudiflorum, Galium circaezans, and Polygonatum biflorum var. biflorum.
Soil Nutrient Status: medium.
Surficial duff and humus range from 0 to 4 cm.
A = Reddish-brown loam, very stony.
Physical Analysis (A-Horizon): 3% clay, 41% silt, 56% sand.
Disturbance Data:
Disturbance Type
Disturbance Intensity
Disturbance Comment
unknown
Heavy deer grazing, several dogwood snags in plot.