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
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Shrub Cover
15
%
Field Cover
90
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
A buttonbush- and sedge-dominated peatland community includes the rare Scirpus ancistrochaetus in an apparent "sag pond," a water-filled depression on a mountainside bench made by Pleistocene landslide activity. The wetland appears to much younger, however, organic matter at the bottom of the depression, about 10 feet below the peat surface, has been C14 dated at about 3000 yr BP. There is no inflow watercourse, but a swale downslope and a successional community on the downhill side of the pond indicate there may have been an outflow which was dammed with earth many decades ago. Carex tribuloides, Glyceria acutiflora and Lobelia cardinalis are present in drier, partly shaded fringe area near bank of pond.
Plot located ca. 0.75 mi northwest of Morning Knob, at eastern end of peaty pond on bench directly uphill from parking pull-off on Rt. 600, ca. 600 ft northwest of parking area.
