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
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: 0.39 km SE of the summit of Wildcat Mtn.
Rock Types Present: metabasalt debris.
Vegetation on this rather mesic, fertile slope is a maturing oak-hickory forest with a surprisingly sparse herbaceous cover. Clear evidence of herbivory (grazed-off stems of Carex spp., Cimicifuga racemosa, Phryma leptostachya, and other herbs) suggests that white-tailed deer are largely responsible for this unexpectedly low herbaceous cover. The formerly dominant Cornus florida has been greatly reduced by dogwood anthracnose. Huge numbers of Fraxinus americana seedlings were present in the herb layer.