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
4
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
75
%
Field Cover
4
%
Nonvascular Cover
20
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot is located in an extensive, mature beech-oak forest with dense mountain-laurel shrub layer that extends along the steep flanks of several adjacent ravines draining into Mount Creek. The stand is somewhat discontinuous and interspersed with other vegetation types, but covers many hectares. The area of the plot is nearly level at the top but plunges steeply on a northwest-facing slope "nose." The overstory trees are large, but recruitment of all species, even beech, is relatively sparse due to the nearly continuous thicket of mountain-laurel.