Intensive 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
1000
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Tree Height
35
m
Shrub Height
3
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
60
%
Shrub Cover
30
%
Field Cover
80
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Interesting stand with a curious mix of strict calciphiles and rather pedestrian, ubiquitous species. Quercus shumardii and Q. alba are the leading canopy dominants; what little Q. muhlenbergii there is occurs only in the herb stratum. Most Q. shumardii individuals have evidently been stressed; numerous limbs are dead, several snags are present, and early-season herbivory has been moderate. Many species are represented by multi-stemmed boles, but splits typically occur 1-2 m off ground, not at the base. Herb layer is lush but is short (generally 20-30 cm) and contains few nutrient-demanding species. Lonicera japonica, which is especially abundant in modules 3 and 8, does not appear to be associated with any particular past disturbance event. Canopy height in this stand is as great as that observed anywhere else at the Cedars. Modules 6 and 7 contain a portion of a sinkhole ca. 100 sq. m and 2-3 m deep. Scant oak regeneration. Acer saccharum is unusually abundant for the Cedars. An unprecedented five species of Carya were tentatively identified in plot.
From Quercus shumardii (forked ca. 1 m off ground; boles measure 42 and 33 cm; northern bole flagged): 9.8 m @ 57 deg to stake A.
0 - 1 - litter
1 - 4 - O horizon: medium brown
4 - light brown, moist (especially with depth), variably gravelly clay loam with admixed organic matter; forms large clods
75 - bedrock
