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
32
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
45
%
Field Cover
95
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This plot documents a small-remnant of older calcareous forest on a submesic upland bordering a branch of Lake Prince. Although most upland forests on the slopes and bluffs bordering Lake Prince are associated with acidic soils and contain typical acidophilic species, small stands such as that sampled here occur where underlying shell deposits are close enough to the surface to influence soil chemistry. This stand contains several impressively large trees, including a 109 cm DBH Quercus muhlenbergii, as well as good understory recruitment of Acer barbatum and a very lush herb layer dominated by a large clone of Podophyllum peltatum. This is one of the best examples of a calcareous Coastal Plain forest on the uplands around Lake Prince.