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
24
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
30
%
Field Cover
12
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot documents a stunted, post oak-dominated forest on a nearly level upland with extremely acidic, imperfectly drained, clay soil. The soil was waterlogged on the date of sampling, but xeric conditions were observed here at the end of summer in 2007. It appears that the water table at this site is seasonally perched, but that the habitat becomes droughty during drier periods. Both the vegetation composition and stunted condition of the overstory oaks suggests a "hardpan" subsoil. DOF has aged this stand at 107 years, at which time it appears that the current oaks regenerated largely from coppice sprouts.