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 Height
25
m
Shrub Height
4
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
70
%
Shrub Cover
20
%
Field Cover
10
%
Nonvascular Cover
3
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This short slope between a narrow ridge and the palustrine forest along the upper reaches of the Western Branch Corrotoman River contains a small but somewhat unusual variant on the widespread and typically extensive mixed oak/heath forest of the Coastal Plain. Here Quercus rubra, not Q. falcata, is the principal dominant. Heath richness is notably high; although discrimination among species was somewhat difficult, Gaylussacia frondosa appears to be the most important. The lower portion of the stand is more open and contains several broad Fagus grandifolia, beneath which the herb layer is especially sparse. Patches of bare or nearly bare mineral soil are common; their origin may be tied to animal activity, as a number of burrows (5-10 cm wide) were observed.
From flagged Carya pallida (49.4 cm dbh) just below ridgeline: 16 m @ 340 deg to Stake A.
