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 Cover
70
%
Shrub Cover
15
%
Field Cover
90
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
A mixed mesophytic forest occurring on deep, dark, fertile soils derived from underlying dolomitic bedrock. The current canopy dominance of Liriodendron tulipifera resulted from logging ca. 30 years ago. The abundance of Acer saccharum and Aesculus flava in understory and shrub layers no doubt reflects a successional trend toward the future dominance of these trees. The herbaceous layer of this stand is extremely lush and contains quite a diversity of nutrient demanding forbs.
Plot located on steep, northeast-facing slope along south side of the Clinch River, 1.0 km southeast of Rt. 645 bridge.