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
35
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
50
%
Field Cover
80
%
Nonvascular Cover
2
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
A striking feature of this stand is the abundance of Fagus grandifolia seedlings or root sprouts and the complete absence of Acer saccharum from the overstory. Although large Fagus and moderately abundant coarse woody debris suggest old-growth potential -- indeed the landowner, Mr. Graff, considers this an old-growth stand -- it is likely that stand was high graded 50-100 years ago and that the Acer saccharum component was entirely removed. The cover of A. saccharum in the four focal modules belies the abundance of seedlings in the plot as a whole. Herb layer is lush and diverse; the number of fern species is especially noteworthy. Shrub density is high but variable, and compositional and structural heterogeneity complicated plot placement. Extent of mature, diverse, significant forest is substantially less than size of this forested patch.
