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
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
80
%
Field Cover
65
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The forest vegetation in this plot is typical of interstream flats in a wide cove bottom where three headwaters branches of Buffalo Branch flow ~ parallel to each other before converging into a single channel.. This habitat is well-drained and rarely, if ever, flooded but soils were formed from old alluvial deposits. Pinus strobus, Quercus alba, Liriodendron tulipifera, and Betula alleghaniensis co-dominate the stand throughout, with Carpinus caroliniana most characteristic of the understory. The herbaceous flora is diverse, though not particularly lush. At least some of this area was disturbed in the past by clearing, logging, and/or grazing. Based on the size of the trees (45-65 cm DBH), the forest in the plot area is probably ~ 70 years old. Spiraea japonica is an invasive shrub in parts of the cove bottom, but few other exotics occur.
0-1 cm: thin leaf and needle litter
1-3 cm: medium brown clay loam
3+ cm: yellow-brown clay loam with stones
Disturbance Data:
Disturbance Type
Disturbance Intensity
Disturbance Comment
unknown
Probably grazed by livestock in past; possibly once cleared. Carya cordiformis mostly defoliated by fall webworms. Spiraea japonica is invasive in areas near the plot.