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
33
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
6
m
Tree Cover
85
%
Shrub Cover
15
%
Field Cover
80
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This plot is similar to JRNF047 and part of the same discontinuous stand of rich, mesophytic forest that occupies coves and concave slopes on the upper northwest slope of Elk Garden Ridge. Tall, well-formed Acer saccharum, Tilia americana var. heterophylla, Fraxinus americana, and Aesculus flava co-dominate the overstory. Except for young Acer saccharum recruitment, the lower woody layers are rather sparse. The herb layer is composed of extensive colonies of nutrient-demanding forbs, of which Viola canadensis, Caulophyllum thalictroides, Sanicula odorata, Prosartes lanuginosa, Tiarella cordifolia var. cordifolia, and Solidago flexicaulis are most abundant. The stand appears to be more or less even-aged but represents a "climax" vegetation type characterized by shade-tolerant species.