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
30
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
75
%
Shrub Cover
70
%
Field Cover
60
%
Nonvascular Cover
10
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
A linear (10 x 40 m) plot was placed along the contour to capture a narrow remnant of older forest on a slope between the Staunton River Trail (an old road) and the river. Although most of the extensive Staunton River cove bottom was once cleared, and is now forested in nearly monospecific, even-age stands of Liriodendron tulipifera, the steeper slopes between the old road and the river were left in forest. The plot has a mixed overstory of oaks, Betula lenta, Liriodendron tulipifera, and Acer rubrum, along with a dense shrub layer (mostly of Hamamelis virginiana and Acer pensylvanicum) and good recruitment of young Quercus rubra and Q. montana in places where the shrub cover is not continuous.