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:
Tree Height
30
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
70
%
Shrub Cover
20
%
Field Cover
10
%
Nonvascular Cover
5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot was sampled with the intent of capturing several characteristic species of southern Appalachian acidic cove and slope forests -- Galax urceolata, Oxydendrum arboreum, and Vaccinium erythrocarpum -- which are virtually absent from the Blue Ridge north of the James or Roanoke Rivers, but which range farther north in the Ridge and Valley. Rhododendron maximum, however, is missing from this lower slope, which supports an interrupted shrub layer of R. catawbiense and Kalmia latifolia; the density of these two species is highest in the residual modules, especially 5, 6 and 7. Module 1 is very open, with dense ground cover of V. erythrocarpum and Menziesia pilosa seedlings 10-20 cm tall. Galax is restricted in the plot to small, scattered patches, but is much more abundant along North Buffalo Creek below the plot. Two large Quercus coccinea snags in modules 9 and 10 created a gap measuring ca. 50 sq. m and spanning modules 1, 2, 9 and 10. Plot crosses small boulderfield in modules 3 and 8. Coarse woody debris abounds and several small snags are present, but there is no evidence of recent stand-level disturbance.
0 - 1 - litter and duff
1 - 4 - O horizon: dark brown
4 - light gray to light brown, cobbly, fine sandy loam; sample from module 9 is considerably sandier and less rocky
