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
800
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Tree Height
40
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
25
%
Field Cover
40
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This impressive stand of large Fagus grandifolia appears to occupy most of the northeast-facing slope above an unnamed tributary of Brockenbrough Creek. Although the stature of these trees is noteworthy, compositionally similar stands occur throughout the dissected topography of the inner Coastal Plain. Polystichum acrostichoides is often the only abundant and characteristic herb species in such communities. Strong dominance by Fagus may reflect past high-grade logging. The steep and narrowly undulating topography of this slope precluded sampling a plot longer than 40 m. Topographic complexity also hindered the measurement of canopy height, but one measure put it at well over 40 m. Although putatively old-growth forest at this site may extend beyond this slope, other stands were deemed too disturbed or too compositionally heterogeneous to warrant sampling. The plateau above supports a mixed stand of Quercus spp., Liriodendron tulipifera, and scattered Pinus, with abundant Ilex opaca in the understory.
Prevailing aspect is 83 deg. Slope inclination is higher than 18 deg. on upper and lower sides of plot.
