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:
Tree Cover
70
%
Shrub Cover
50
%
Field Cover
90
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
A typical Quercus coccinea-, Quercus montana- and Gaylussacia baccata- dominated forest, with Pinus rigida as a more or less strong associate, commonly found on oligotrophic, convex landforms in the study area. This plot is actually in a small, horizontal concavity, a shallow swale running down the side of an overall doubly convex knoll. This stand is probably 100-150 years old, though the largest tree in the plot is barely 1 ft. dbh. There is abundant direct evidence of fire, but no evidence of logging. This stand is surrounded by old- growth Quercus montana-dominated forest with big trees. This suggests that this stand was not logged, but is maintained with a strong Quercus coccinea and Pinus component by occasional canopy-killing fires. The abundance of Gaylussacia baccata relative to other heaths is characteristic of this community. Also characteristic is the apparently deep, though course-textured, soil without bedrock outcrop or large stones or boulders.
Plot located 1.6 mi east of Hematite.
