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
90
%
Shrub Cover
50
%
Field Cover
70
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This plot is representative of oak dominated forest communities which occupy many of the spur ridge crests (particularly east and NE facing) on steeply dipping east flank of Middle Mountain. These communities are generally somewhat transitional between chestnut oak-heath stands on the south and southwest facing slopes and red oak forests on the north facing slopes. White oak, although present on both south and north facing slopes, attains its greatest importance on these crests. In the particular stand documented here, it dominates in mixture with chestnut oak (Quercus montana) and red oak (Q. rubra). Prior to it's demise from the blight, American chestnut (Castanea dentata) was a minor associate in the stand. The trees here are larger than average for the area and the herbaceous diversity is relatively high despite the dominance of low blueberry (Vaccinium stamineum).
Trees measured in plot (dbh in cm): Quercus rubra (53), Quercus alba (47), Quercus montana (42).
