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
34
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
55
%
Field Cover
15
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot is located on a north-facing slope along Pimmit Run and documents a stand typical of forests that occur over a large area in this stream valley. Although mesic, soils here are extremely acidic and infertile, supporting only a patchy herb layer dominated by the ferns Polystichum acrostichoides and Thelypteris noveboracensis. Several large Fagus grandifolia and Quercus alba specimens occur in and near the plot. Although oaks are important overstory components, Fagus dominates or co-dominates every stratum of the understory.
0-1 cm: loose leaf litter
2-5 cm: dark brown clay loam
5+ cm: light brown clay loam
Disturbance Data:
Disturbance Type
Disturbance Intensity
Disturbance Comment
unknown
No recent disturbance. Very minor exotics. Outside of the plot, some parts of the slope have been impacted by flash flooding and exotics from the George Washington Memorial Parkway upslope.