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 Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
70
%
Field Cover
90
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Forest vegetation here is extraordinarily lush for a Coastal Plain ravine, the result of deep, fertile soils derived from glauconitic sands that are limey and shelly in part. The profusion of ferns in this mesophytic forest is phenomenal, with Deparia acrostichoides (=Athyrium thelypterioides), Diplazium pycnocarpon, and Cystopteris protrusa contributing a combined (overlapping) cover of approximately 85%.
Plot location: Steep NE-facing slope. 1.1 miles NW of Crows Nest Point, 1.0 miles N of Boykins Island, and 0.1 miles S of Accotink Creek.