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
27
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
9
m
Tree Cover
85
%
Shrub Cover
70
%
Field Cover
7
%
Nonvascular Cover
2
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: <50 meters N of Toll Gate Forest Road, 0.2 km E of jct. with Rt. 624.
The habitat is a nearly level "flatwoods" with an evident hardpan subsoil. Small depressions that appear to be alternately water logged and very dry are scattered throughout the area. The topography of this site and high soil Mn levels suggest that amphibole gneiss (part of the interlayered felsic/mafic geologic complex) underlies this upland. Vegetation is a somewhat scrubby and open oak-hickory forest co-dominated by Quercus stellata and Carya glabra. Carya glabra, Ulmus alata, and Juniperus virginiana attain the highest stem densities in the understory; herbs are sparse but quite diverse.