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
15
m
Shrub Height
5
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
70
%
Shrub Cover
65
%
Field Cover
20
%
Nonvascular Cover
4
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Low-statured, wind-stunted forest on a gentle high-elevation ridge crest. Plot is generally representative of stand, which is dominated by Quercus rubra but has significant admixture of Tsuga canadensis and Betula lenta. The understory contains a variety of shrubs, with fairly dense tangles of Kalmia latifolia and Pieris floribunda typical. The plot was placed in an area where shrub thickets were slightly less dense, and includes a rocky ledge and a few meters of a relatively steep slope on the east side. A variety of herbs with northern affinities occur in the sample, e.g., Dryopteris intermedia, Oclemena acuminata, Maianthemum canadense.
O horizon is variable, consisting on average of 5-12 cm of leaf litter grading to dark humus.
A horizon = dark sandy loam, very rocky and with many roots
Disturbance Data:
Disturbance Type
Disturbance Intensity
Disturbance Comment
unknown
Very low adelgid population / damage. Abundant fine woody debris from recent wind/ice storms. Shrubs of Kalmia had thin foliage with much die-back.
