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
400
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Tree Height
36
m
Shrub Height
5
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
95
%
Shrub Cover
20
%
Field Cover
8
%
Nonvascular Cover
3
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Mature mixed hardwood stand occupying the crest of a narrow ridge in the highly dissected upland bordering the Potomac River floodplain. The vegetation here is somewhat drier than that of the steep ravine slopes below, but has a similar composition. Several large oaks and a hickory form most of the overstory, while Fagus grandifolia dominates or co-dominates all understory strata. Except for a large clone of the grass Brachyelytrum erectum on one edge of the plot, the herb layer is sparse. This plot was sampled one week before Hurricane Isabel in September 2003. A return visit in April 2004 revealed that many of the overstory trees were damaged, several severely.