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
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
5
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
5
%
Field Cover
80
%
Nonvascular Cover
2
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Second-growth stand with obvious signs of past disturbance. Presence of large Liriodendron tulipifera and relatively large understory Sassafras albidum indicate former canopy openings, but no extant gaps are present in plot. Liriodendron cohort likely became established following selective thinning ca. 50 years ago. No stumps are evident, however, and few trees appear to be of sprout origin. Herb composition -- notably shared dominance by Amphicarpaea bracteata, Desmodium nudiflorum, Dichanthelium boscii, and Brachyelytrum erectum -- is reminiscent of stands with high light availability in understory, but light at ground layer here is limited chiefly to sunflecks. Coarse woody debris is moderately abundant and can be traced primarily to past wind storms. Plot contains a few snags, mostly of Quercus alba. A linear disturbance patch ca. 20 m east of plot supports higher shrub density.
Directions: Walk north (uphill) on Ewing Trail. At large switchback near 2600" contour, leave trail and follow bearing of ca. 240 deg for ca. 525 m to point. Beware bears pilfering lunches. Tagged tree is a Nyssa sylvatica of 54 cm dbh with tag #192. Conduit is at a bearing of 14 degrees and 2.5 m from tree.