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
27
m
Shrub Height
5
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
75
%
Field Cover
35
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This plot documents a rather long, narrow swathe of medium-age oak/heath forest wedged between a forest road and a clearcut. The forest appears to be a two-aged stand. Growth rings on the stump of a salvaged, wind-thrown oak just outside the plot indicate that the average age of oaks in the stand is ca. 120 years. Two white oaks in the plot appear to be older. It seems likely that most of the stand regenerated following a cutting ca. 120 years ago, while the residual oaks were young trees that were left. Shortleaf pine that probably regenerated with the oaks was removed many decades ago. This type of forest community, while very common in many parts of the Piedmont, is notably uncommon in Cumberland State Forest, where base-rich soils generally prevail and support more diverse oak-hickory communities.
