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
32
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
25
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
20
%
Field Cover
20
%
Nonvascular Cover
5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This plot captures a representative sample of an exceptional, old-age swamp forest covering 15 ha in the Nottoway River bottomlands. The size and density of massive, old Nyssa aquatica and Taxodium distichum rival or better other similar stands in Virginia. The area contains two Nyssa aquatica that share national champion status, the state champion Taxodium distichum, the national champion Fraxinus caroliniana, the state-champion Populus heterophylla, and the co-state champion Quercus lyrata. This swamp is deeply inundated for extended periods, as indicated by water marks on trees ca. 1.3 m above ground level. The habitat was almost completely drawn down after a very dry summer, with local patches of annual herbs well developed. There is no evidence that this stand has ever been logged or disturbed anthropogenically, and the dominant overstory trees are likely hundreds of years old. Nyssa aquatica dominates the stand, with scattered Taxodium. Small- to medium-size Ulmus americana, Acer rubrum, and Quercus lyrata are rooted at the tops of some Nyssa and Taxodium buttresses, ca. 2-3 m above ground level and well above the water marks. Pleopeltis polypodioides ssp. michauxiana (resurrection fern) is locally abundant on high branches of the trees, but was recorded in the "herb" layer. Likewise, herbs, shrubs, and tree samplings that were rooted in moss on the buttresses were treated in the "herb" layer. Because the dominant trees were so large, a 1000 sq. m. releve was sampled.
