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
21
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
85
%
Shrub Cover
15
%
Field Cover
90
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot is located in a fairly extensive stand of lush oak-hickory forest that occupies the upper, southeast-facing slope of Shenandoah Mountain below about 1200 m elevation south of Reddish Knob. Quercus rubra, Carya ovata, and C. ovalis are the principal overstory trees in variable combinations. True shrubs are sparse and the understory consists largely of young recruitment of the canopy species. Some areas outside the plot have an understory of Acer saccharum. The herb layer is similar to that of a rich cove forest, with lush development of clonal forbs such as Cimicifuga racemosa, Osmorhiza claytonii, and Ageratina altissima. The impact of historical disturbances on this vegetation is uncertain but probably included logging, grazing, and wildfires.