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
33
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
70
%
Field Cover
60
%
Nonvascular Cover
2
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Directions to plot: Take Hill Ewell drive South off of Rte. 20. Turn left onto Rte.621 (Orange Plank Rd) and then park at trailhead on left. Follow trail through field to middle of trail and then hike NW into woods, down to ravine.
Narrow linear seep with acidic, nutrient-poor soils. Clethra alnifolia and Pinus taeda (just outside plot) are at or near their westernmost limits at this latitude, giving the vegetation a distinct affinity to the Coastal Plain. Mean groundwater pH (5 samples) = 5.38. Mean groundwater temperature (deg. C, 5 samples) = 9.68.