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
25
m
Shrub Height
0.899999976158142
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
60
%
Shrub Cover
40
%
Field Cover
30
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot captures vegetation at the mesic end of an upland moisture gradient. Pinus palustris is altogether absent here, and Q. laevis is nearly so. The overstory is taller and better developed at this end of the gradient, and a true forest physiognomy occurs. It was difficult to place plot so as to sample representative composition and structure as observed in initial reconnaissance visit, but these data are probably adequate. Quercus velutina and Q. falcata are the characteristic dominant oaks. While Gaylussacia frondosa continues to dominate the low shrub stratum, G. baccata is notably more abundant at this end of the gradient. Vaccinium tenellum may have been overrepresented in the plot relative to the stand as a whole. Carya pallida, Castanea pumila, and Symplocos tinctoria are perhaps the three most diagnostic species distinguishing this stand from more xeric vegetation. Stand is evidently fire-suppressed, with scant oak or hickory regeneration, and has probably not burned for at least 50 years. Cnidoscolus stimulosus and Cypripedium acaule observed in vicinity of plot.
0 - 2 - litter
2 - 3 - duff
3 - 20 - medium gray sand, apparently rich in organic matter (module 8 contains very pale tannish-gray sand with less organic matter)
~20 - light tannish-brown sand, with much less organic matter; soil is unconsolidated, mak
