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
5
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
7
%
Field Cover
5
%
Nonvascular Cover
3
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: ca. 0.8 km N of entrance to Conway-Robinson SF on US 29, in swampy area just N of unfinished railroad grade.
Within the Triassic Basin "flatwoods" setting, it is difficult to judge whether the habitat of this plot is an isolated depression wetland or a poorly-drained floodplain. Since no water flows through the habitat and no stream is located nearby, it is probably best considered an isolated wetland. This site, however, was probably heavily disturbed during the mid-19th century when the old railroad grade located just south of the plot was constructed. Maximum flooding depth here is 25 cm, based on water marks on trees. Soils have the consistency of putty. Vegetation is a floristically depauperate forest dominated by Quercus palustris, with sparse understory. Carex ssp. are the most prominent components of a very sparse herb layer.
