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
30
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Field Cover
90
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The plot captures rich mesophytic forest vegetation of a south-facing, upper-slope cove in a saddle on the Shenandoah Mountain crest. The stand appears to continue down a ravine on the West Virginia side of the crest. The vegetation is dominated by tall, straight Acer saccharum and Tilia americana, with scattered individuals of Carya cordiformis and C. ovalis also present. Acer saccharum, Fraxinus americana, and Carya spp. are also present in the sub-canopy tree layers, but a shrub layer is essentially lacking. The herbaceous flora is dense and lush with colonial forbs, especially Cimicifuga racemosa. This stand is unusual in its topographic setting and structure. Soils here are extraordinarily calcareous and also high in magnesium. A relatively recent fire appears to be responsible for the absence of shrubs and the mortality of several tree saplings.
Leaf litter 4 to 8 cm deep;
2-4 cm of dark humus;
A horizon = blackish fine loam, extremely stony
Disturbance Data:
Disturbance Type
Disturbance Intensity
Disturbance Comment
unknown
Fire scars on larger sugar maples; extensive charred wood debris and small stumps in and around plot. Minor deer herbivory, especially on Polygonatum biflorum and Prosartes lanuginosa.