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 Cover
60
%
Shrub Cover
60
%
Field Cover
90
%
Nonvascular Cover
2
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Spectacular Coastal Plain basic seepage swamp community with lush, diverse herb layer. This stand supports one of the largest populations of Veratrum viride on the Coastal Plain. Beaver activity downstream constitutes a significant threat to this community. Damming has resulted in significant tree mortality, several large canopy gaps, and an apparent shift to herbaceous dominance by Glyceria striata and other graminoids and a considerable reduction in species diversity. Plot captures the best undisturbed portion of the stand. Several clumps of Cypripedium kentuckiense are located just outside plot.
Stake A positioned ca. 2 m from emergent Fraxinus pennsylvanica (ca. 24 cm dbh; flagged).