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
30
m
Shrub Height
5
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
70
%
Shrub Cover
70
%
Field Cover
6
%
Nonvascular Cover
12
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: steep bluff on south side of the Willis River, 0.3 km ESE of the Willis River Forest Road bridge.
The plot was positioned on the upper portion of a steep, densely vegetated north-facing bluff along the Willis River (the middle to lower portion was simply too steep and dense to be sampled). A long and narrow plot configuration was employed to avoid including the bluff-top environment and vegetation. Soils here are very infertile and stony. The Forest growth is characterized by an open stand of Quercus alba, Fagus grandifolia, and Quercus rubra, some individuals of which have been damaged by past wind storms. Acer rubrum and Fagus are abundant in the small tree layers. The shrub layer is overwhelmingly dominated by Kalmia latifolia. This is a very uncommon community type in Cumberland State Forest.