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
5
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
65
%
Field Cover
45
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The plot is located on a broad, nearly level ridge crest of the Southern Blue Ridge plateau, and documents a second-growth oak / heath forest that was left largely intact during extensive logging about 20 years ago. While ordinary in appearance, the stand has extraordinary species richness (n = 47) for a dry oak / heath forest and contains several haracteristic southern Appalachian species, e.g., Rhododendron calendulaceum, Vaccinium erythrocarpon, and Magnolia fraseri. Quercus coccinea is somewhat under-represented in the plot. It is more abundant just outside the boundary to the northeast, between the plot and Rt. 629. Kalmia latifolia, which is absent from the plot, also occurs there.
Plot area was spared from extensive logging about 20 years ago, possibly because it is adjacent to two roads at the entrance to the tract. It was, however, logged approximately 60-70 years ago.
