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
29
m
Tree Cover
70
%
Shrub Cover
10
%
Field Cover
5
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Mature second-growth stand with scattered large, residual trees and open understory with sparse shrub layer of Ilex opaca. Plot located on broad terrace at base of slope above embayed upper reaches of Powell Creek. Upslope and to the east vegetation grades to Coastal Plain oak-beech / heath community with dense Kalmia latifolia. Many overstory trees exhibit evidence of crown stress, for which canopy disturbance seems insufficient to account. Identification of some oaks proved problematic; numerous hybrids between Quercus falcata and Q. velutina may be present. Foliage can vary considerably on individual trees, but most overstory trees identified as Q. falcata on the basis of long, narrow terminal lobe. Abundant green leaffall varies in pubescence and scurfiness, but shape of this leaf litter more closely resembles that of Q. velutina. At least two large Q. velutina are definitely present just outside the plot.
0 - 2 - leaf litter and duff
2 - 75 - very loosely consolidated, fine-textured sandy loam; within 5 cm hue grades from medium gray to medium tannish-brown
75 - soil becomes much more consolidated and difficult to penetrate
