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
19
m
Shrub Height
4
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
85
%
Shrub Cover
20
%
Field Cover
12
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This plot is located in a somewhat stunted, rather xeric-looking beech forest with largely ericaceous understory, growing on the gentle slope of a hill along a branch of the Western Branch Reservoir. Soils are sandy, drought-prone, and extremely nutrient-poor. Few trees other than beech are present; Kalmia latifolia, Symplocos tinctoria, and Gaylussacia frondosa are the principal patch-forming shrubs.