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
35
m
Shrub Height
5
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
95
%
Shrub Cover
70
%
Field Cover
85
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Although most upland forests on the slopes and bluffs bordering Lake Prince are associated with acidic soils and contain typical acidophilic species, small stands of rich mesophytic hardwood forest occur where underlying shell deposits are close enough to the surface to influence soil chemistry. This plot was located in one such habitat, where soil calcium levels exceed 2000 ppm. This gentle, mesic slope supports an exceedingly lush second-growth forest with Liriodendron tulipifera the leading overstory dominant and Carya cordiformis well represented in both the overstory and understory layers. Lindera benzoin is the leading shrub species, while the herb layer has a nearly continuous cover of Podophyllum peltatum, Polystichum acrostichoides, Uvularia perfoliata, and other forbs.