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
17
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
25
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
50
%
Field Cover
30
%
Nonvascular Cover
2
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot was positioned to sample a stunted ridge-crest forest dominated by Quercus rubra. Soil in the sampled area was very stony and shallow in the northern half of the plot, somewhat deeper in the southern half. The site probably has a history of grazing. Understory of tall Crataegus spp., Amelanchier arborea, Ilex montana, and Hamamelis virginiana. The stand has little recruitment of either oak or any other potential canopy species. The dominance of Maianthemum canadense and Oclemena acuminata in the herb layer reflects the cooler, high-elevation microclimate. Overall, this stand seems richer than most other high-elevation red oak forests documented in southwestern Virginia. The plot was sampled very early, with trees barely leafing out; woody species cover was estimated as if the plants were fully leafed. A later-season visit would undoubtedly uncover additional species and result in some changes in cover class scores.
