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
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
70
%
Shrub Cover
50
%
Field Cover
30
%
Nonvascular Cover
15
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
A large amount of seepage emerges from the base of the 50 ft. high sandy slope, creating permanently saturated conditions. The wetland soils are for the most part firm sand, covered by a thin mat of leaf matter and shallow film of water. The large amount of firm wet sand and the corresponding lack of peat development are unusual. Several Helonias plants grew in the wet sand habitat. The Nyssa trees here are tall, but diameters are not great (<50 cm.). No Pinus taeda present. The seepage emerges at the contact zone between porous upslope deposits (Pliocene sand and gravel) and less porous, clay rich deposits in the creek bottom (Calvert Formation).
Plot location: Plot lies on the seepy sandy soils on N side of small unnamed creek 1.05 miles N. of N. end of Bowies Pond; plot includes entire Helonias population.