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
37
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
90
%
Field Cover
70
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: in ravine tributary of Mill Creek, ca. 0.25 miles NNW of the latter's confluence with the Pamunkey River.
The plot documents a "rich" mesophytic hardwood forest covering a sheltered ravine slope. Relatively mature Fagus grandifolia dominates the overstory and may be singularly abundant because of past removal of oaks and other hardwoods. Asimina overwhelmingly dominates the understory, while a lush assemblage of nutrient-demanding herbs covers the forest floor. Soils here have relatively high Ca levels for the region and may be weathered from shell deposits or limesands. Several montane/ highland disjuncts occur in this drainage, including Actaea pachypoda (abundant), Panax quinquefolius, Aruncus dioicus, Scutellaria nervosa (outside plot), and Scutellaria serrata (outside plot).