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
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:
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
50
%
Shrub Cover
25
%
Field Cover
60
%
Nonvascular Cover
3
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot captures rather unusual vegetation for this portion of the Blue Ridge. Composition is reminiscent of that of gentle upper slopes underlain by greenstone in Shenandoah National Park; Quercus rubra and Q. alba share dominance, and Rhododendron prinophyllum and Amianthium muscitoxicum are relatively abundant. The canopy is stunted and of uneven height, and tree boles are generally gnarled and evidently wind-stressed, as is characteristic of the greater Apple Orchard Mountain area. Although no large extant gaps are present, wind and ice disturbances probably occur frequently, and vegetation downslope to the north appears to have experienced moderately severe disturbance in last several years. Coarse woody debris abounds, a few snags are present, and virtually all overstory individuals exhibit signs of some crown damage. Oak regeneration, particularly of Q. rubra, is high, including seedlings to 10 cm tall and saplings > 1 cm dbh. Many larger stems of Castanea dentata seem to have succumbed recently to chestnut blight.
