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:
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
8
%
Field Cover
90
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The plot is located on an old slump/landslide feature, now healed over, on NW-facing slope along Back Creek, 0.5 mi SW of Blowing Springs Campground. The tree canopy is rather open, probably due to the instability of the substrate, which consists of small limestone boulders and stones. The calcium loving, lithophytic fern Cystopteris bulbifera dominates the herbaceous layer. On adjacent slopes, with deep colluvial soils, this fern is absent and mesophytic forbs such as Trillium erectum and Caulophyllum thalictroides predominate.