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
32
m
Shrub Height
5
m
Field Height
7
m
Tree Cover
75
%
Shrub Cover
65
%
Field Cover
50
%
Nonvascular Cover
14
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: bluff-like slope along the Willis River, 0.5 km north of the north end of Winston Lake.
This very steep, NW-facing, river-fronting slope has about 20% cover by sandstone boulders and supports an open forest with rather dense shrub growth. Frequent downfalls have created several canopy gaps on the rocky bluff and provide good illumination for a diverse assemblage of lower woody plants and herbs. Among the former, Hamamelis virginiana and Viburnum acerifolium are notably abundant. The current overstory is co-dominated by Fagus grandifolia, Carya glabra, and Liriodendron tulipifera; a large Quercus rubra is rooted outside the plot but has > 10% overhanging cover. Fagus is well represented in all understory classes and appears poised to assume greater dominance in the future.