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
39
m
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: 0.34 km ESE of the summit of Wildcat Mtn.
Rock Types Present: bouldery metabasalt colluvium and debris.
This mesic, rocky slope of Wildcat Mountain supports a beautiful, tall forest with mixed canopy dominance by Liriodendron tulipifera, Quercus rubra, Quercus alba, and Carya spp. Relatively fertile soils (high Ca, Mg) support a rather lush herb stratum where Cimicifuga racemosa, Desmodium glutinosum, and Amphicarpaea bracteata are prominent. Herbivory by white-tailed deer are less of a problem here than at many other sites in the Watery Mountains, but invasive exotics (especially Celastrus orbiculatus) have increased dramatically over the last 10-15 years.