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
30
%
Field Cover
70
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This plot documents a mixed stand of northern hardwoods on a lower, south facing slope bordering a major tributary of Laurel Fork. The stand is young (60-70 years old) following heavy logging and fire in the 1920s. Black cherry (Prunus serotina), white ash (Fraxinus americana), cucumber tree (Magnolia acuminata), and black birch (Betula lenta) are the currently canopy dominants. Beech (Fagus grandifolia) and sugar maple (Acer saccharum), common in the lower woody layers, are the potential dominants of the future climax forest on this site. However, a widespread outbreak of beech bark disease (beech scale Nectria complex) in the Laurel Fork area makes the future viability of beech in this community uncertain.