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:
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
50
%
Shrub Cover
50
%
Field Cover
5
%
Nonvascular Cover
30
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Tsuga canadensis, with a few scattered Picea rubens, clearly dominates the ravine bottom, but within a short distance up the steep slope of boulders, oaks and pines become prevalent. The plot encompasses hemlock forest and an up-slope ecotonal area; trees in the downslope section are taller than those in the upper slope section. The forest is evidently virgin and the hemlocks, some 1.0 m dbh, survived past fires due to the steep ravine topography; fire from any direction here would have to burn downhill to reach the hemlocks. There is also relatively little available fuel due to the dense shade. Hemlocks are healthy with absolutely no sign hemlock wooly adelgid. Huge fallen trees crossing the stream frequently support many small hemlock saplings. The Picea rubens individual in the plot is large and healthy, but elsewhere along this ravine bottom several trees have recently died or appear senescent. The Picea population along this stream is very small: just a few scattered trees along a 300-m section of ravine bottom. Reproduction is quite poor, just five small, unthrifty saplings seen downstream of the plot. This small population, at 3400 feet elevation, represents a low elevational limit of the species in Virginia.
Take small trail (beginning 0.55 mi south of Hall Spring Road along Long Run Road) to junction with Little Laurel Run. Plot located ca. 150 m downstream on east slope of ravine. Look for largest Picea rubens (in plot). Plot center is marked with yellow ribbon. All trees marked using numbered metal tags.
Fire about 50 years ago evidently gave rise to the cohort of smaller trees here. The large hemlocks and spruce in the ravine bottom survived the fires.
