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
34
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
30
%
Field Cover
80
%
Nonvascular Cover
3
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Stand of mixed overstory composition and moderately lush and diverse herb layer on lower, sheltered, northeast-facing slope. Acer saccharum is restricted to the shrub stratum. Herb cover (especially of Aralia nudicaulis) is higher on the upper side of plot (particularly modules 8 and 9); local species richness is clearly inversely proportional to total herb cover. There is very little tree regeneration other than scattered Carya seedlings. Limestone cobbles abound; their irregular shape creates considerable microtopographic variation. There are several downed boles and limbs, but many appear several years old; there is no evidence of recent canopy disturbance. A few large stumps of Castanea are present.
0 - 3 - litter and duff
3 - dark brown, moist, very rocky, apparently somewhat sandy clay loam, with high organic matter content; depth of O horizon varies considerably
