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
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Field Height
1
m
Field Cover
95
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Unusual combination of co-dominant Carex hyalinolepis and Acorus calamus adjacent to tidal shrub swamp fringe and located ca. 30 m from plot RAPR001. C. hyalinolepis is less robust (shorter culms, more narrow leaves) than in near monocultures on the Pamunkey River and in dense herb strata of tidal woodlands in other systems, and conditions here appear to be freshwater. Plot layout was designed to minimize presence of -- but not, by unduly constraining architecture, to exclude -- woody species. Seedlings of Fraxinus cf. pennsylvanica, Acer rubrum, and Cephalanthus occidentalis are scattered throughout this portion of the marsh, extending ca. 20 m from the edge of shrubland. Most Fraxinus and Cephalanthus stems within and beyond plot are dead or appear severely stressed. Several culms of Scirpus cyperinus occur outside plot, and Helenium autumnale is somewhat more abundant beyond plot (but for only 2-3 m) towards interior of marsh. Senescence of Acorus and similar appearance of two dominants make estimation of cover difficult. Hydrologic regime is difficult to ascertain on this day of exceptionally low low tide.
0 - 5 - primarily fibric organic material with some silt
5 - wet, mucky silt with abundant fine, fibric organic matter; clay content does not appreciably increase with depth
