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
70
%
Shrub Cover
70
%
Field Cover
90
%
Nonvascular Cover
15
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot located along main rill in eastern portion of a springy swamp below FR 201, 2.1 mi south of Big Horse Gap. The habitat, located on a wooded flat at the edge of the Dismal Creek valley bottom, is profoundly influenced by seepage at the base of the adjoining mountain slope. Saturated by apparently circumneutral or calcareous groundwater, the swampy flat and spring rills support characteristic northern seepage swamp plants such as Fraxinus nigra, Caltha palustris and the globally rare Poa paludigena. This is one of the southernmost occurrences of the community type and a relatively fine example, covering about 5 acres with little evidence of disturbance.