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
30
m
Shrub Height
3
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
75
%
Shrub Cover
12
%
Field Cover
60
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
A long, narrow (10 x 40 m) plot configuration was used to capture an Acer saccharinum-dominated forest on a sloping shore of the Potomac River. This habitat is frequently flooded and most of the herbaceous vegetation consists of coarse, fast-growing, flood-tolerant perennial and annual forbs. The upper edge of the plot, which is less frequently flooded, is dominated by dense Laportea canadensis. With increasing elevation away from the river, the silver maple forest grades abruptly to a lush, mixed forest of Platanus occidentalis and Liriodendron tulipifera which occupies the higher floodplain terrace.