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
21
m
Shrub Height
1
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
50
%
Shrub Cover
60
%
Field Cover
25
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Severely fire-suppressed stand at an intermediate position along an upland moisture gradient. It is tempting to believe that vegetation is succeeding to oak dominance in the absence of fire, but there is no evidence of pine mortality (such as snags or downed boles). It is likely that this vegetation is transitional between more open, xeric Pinus palustris - Pinus taeda / Quercus laevis woodland to the south and more mesic vegetation to the north in which pine plays a relatively minor role, at least in contemporary stands (and where P. palustris is altogether absent). Putative hybrids between Q. laevis and Q. falcata identified by resemblance of lower leaves to laevis and long terminal lobe of upper leaves, which is characteristic of falcata. Even individuals identified as "pure" laevis all have some scurf on the lower leaf surfaces, at least in the axils. This characteristic may simply reflect the age of trees and a long history (perhaps 50 years) without fire. Identification and estimation of cover of ericaceous shrubs is confounded by onset of senescence. Some Gaylussacia stems in module 9 approach breast height. Much of the plot has no prevailing aspect. The upper side (modules 1-5) is located on the crest of a subtle ridge with little relief. The lower side (modules 6-10) faces generally west, but aspect and slope were measured from the center of the focal modules in the direction of steepest descent.
