Intensive 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
1000
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Tree Height
15
m
Shrub Height
1
m
Field Height
4
m
Tree Cover
40
%
Shrub Cover
10
%
Field Cover
30
%
Nonvascular Cover
15
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Unusual, very small, and moderately disturbed stand on slope bench ca. 100 vertical m below crest of Grassy Hill. Stand sampled because it contains more Quercus marilandica than any other known stand on the preserve and because rare opportunity presented itself to sample a seven-oak plot. Many overstory Pinus virginiana individuals have asymmetric crowns, have gnarled appearance, or have apparently experienced some crown dieback. Several snags of Pinus, Cornus florida, and Quercus montana are present. Many Q. montana trees are of sprout origin and are multi-stemmed. Canopy height is irregular and cover variably open. Stones and exposed boulders are unusually abundant at the ground surface, and stand in reminiscent in appearance of gabbro barrens on the South Carolina Piedmont. Soil is extremely shallow to bedrock. There is no prevailing aspect; ridge dips down past plot at ca. 220 deg. and drops away slightly (< 5 deg.) on either side.
