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
33
m
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: west-facing slope of ravine tributary of Lake Prince, ca. 0.4 miles ENE of jct. Rts. 604 and 605.
Rock Types Present: shell fragments present in mineral soil.
Soils of this short, undulating ravine slope are extraordinarily calcareous, the product of Quaternary shell deposits exposed by stream incision. A narrow, elongate (10 x 40 m) plot configuration was necessary to capture homogenous vegetation, which consists of a species-rich mesophytic forest. Acer barbatum, Fagus grandifolia, and Cary spp. are the principal overstory trees, with Acer barbatum also dominant in the understory. Sanguinaria canadensis, Circaea lutetiana ssp. canadensis, and Erigeron pulchellus had the highest herb cover on the date of sampling.