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
29
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
50
%
Field Cover
45
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The plot was positioned in a rather dry forest on the upper slope of a low ridge above the New River Trail. The substrate appears to mixed shale and dolomite capped by deposits of water-worn fluvial terrace gravels. Mixed influence by calcareous and acidic parent materials seems evident, with the very diverse floristic composition including both ericacaceous shrubs and other typical acidophiles along with some nutrient-demanding species such as Quercus muhlenbergii, Erigeron pulchellus var. pulchellus, Cercis canadensis var. canadensis, and Cimicifuga racemosa. Halesia tetraptera var. tetraptera is a noteworthy and abundant understory tree which is confined to the vicinity of the New River in Virginia.