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
21
m
Shrub Height
5
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
20
%
Field Cover
65
%
Nonvascular Cover
6
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot was placed in the least disturbed area on the forested bedrock terrace above the Potomac River, downstream from the Great Falls Park picnic area. Elsewhere, this vegetation is over-run with large colonies of exotics (particularly Lonicera japonica, Vinca minor, and Microstegium). Heavy deer browse is evident over the whole area. This site is inundated by catastrophic floods with a return interval between 35 and 85 years. The vegetation is a xerophytic oak-hickory forest with a prominent graminoid component (Dichanthelium boscii, Piptochaetium avenaceum, Danthonia spicata) in the herb layer. Species richness (111 taxa per 400 sq. m..) is very high.