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
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Shrub Height
1.79999995231628
m
Field Height
3
m
Shrub Cover
10
%
Field Cover
25
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot captures a seasonally flooded, interdune swale, which was nearly dry at the time of survey. The general vegetation aspect is shrubby due to dominance by Cephalanthus occidentalis and Decodon verticillatus. Coarse perennial herbs (e.g., Osmunda regalis, Dulichium, Juncus canadensis) are characteristic of hummocks, shrub bases, and less deeply flooded edges. Exposed peat in the recently drawn-down center of the wetland supports "lawns" of the small annuals Panicum verrucosum, Fuirena pumila, and Rhynchospora scirpoides, as well as stranded pads of Nuphar advena. Although very small, this pond is connected by ground water to several other ponds nearby. The wetland is surrounded by a very dry maritime forest with extensive colonies of deciduous ericads. There is ample evidence that fire was once a common occurrence here, and intense burns may have created the more open ponds by burning into the peat and killing baldcypress and swamp tupelo.
