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
33
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
35
%
Field Cover
50
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: just NE of the summit of High Acre Ridge, 1.25 km NW of Rt. 629 bridge over Catharpin Creek. Marked with a metal tree tag. See form/report for sketch. Rock types present: very few phyllite / metasandstone fragments.
This plot is located on the summit of High Acre Ridge, near the highest elevation of the Bull Run Mountains. While the western slope of this ridge is covered by oligotrophic oak/heath and pine-oak/heath vegetation, the summit and upper eastern flank support a diverse mixed hardwood forest. Here, stand composition and soil chemistry values both indicate a substrate with relatively high base status, perhaps derived from phyllite or muscovite schist rather than quartzite. The sampled stand is a post-logging forest co-dominated by Carya ovalis and Liriodendron tulipifera. Nutrient-demanding herbaceous species, especially Amphicarpaea bracteata and Actaea racemosa are prevalent, despite considerable damage from deer-grazing.
The following plants were noticeably damaged by herbivory: Amphicarpaea bracteata, Carex laxiflora, Actaea racemosa, Cornus florida, Hylodesmum glutinosum, Eutrochium purpureum var. purpureum, Lindera benzoin, Phryma leptostachya, and Solidago caesia.