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
34
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
60
%
Field Cover
10
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This plot is located only about 170 m from plot SCRU013, in the next ravine to the north, but appears to have a different land-use history. This stand was probably logged, but not cleared, in the distant past. The forest here contains medium-sized Quercus alba and Quercus montana (outside the plot), which share overstory dominance with Liriodendron tulipifera. Fagus grandifolia dominates all the understory strata, and the herb layer is rather sparse. The low diversity and cover of herbs in this mesophytic forest is atypical, and likely represents the result of heavy grazing pressure by overpopulous white-tailed deer.