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
35
m
Shrub Height
5
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
50
%
Field Cover
35
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: on lower slope bordering the Willis River, approximately 100 m east of Rt. 608 bridge.
This plot documents a mixed, mesophytic hardwood forest growing on moist but relatively infertile, sandy soils. Fagus grandifolia, Quercus rubra, Liriodendron tulipifera, and Liquidambar styraciflua share dominance of the current overstory, which probably regenerated following logging decades ago. Fagus grandifolia is also prevalent in every understory stratum, while other canopy species are not, suggesting increasing future dominance by Fagus alone. Shrub-sized Carpinus caroliniana attains the highest density among all woody species.