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
70
%
Shrub Cover
70
%
Field Cover
50
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The plot is situated on a gently sloping bench at the top of a wooded, north facing cliff along the Shenandoah River, 0.2 mi southwest of mouth of Morgan Mill Stream. Underlying bedrock is dolomite or limestone of the Rome Formation. Despite shallow rocky soils and submesic conditions, vegetation here is extremely diverse, with high species richness (n= 80). In the spring, masses of showy, flowering lithophytic herbs (e.g., Aquilegia canadensis) and calcium-loving ferns are breathtaking.