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
50
%
Shrub Cover
30
%
Field Cover
90
%
Nonvascular Cover
30
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The plot and surrounding habitat support a mixed forest that is heavily influenced by a stony, bouldery, base-rich substrate weathered from underlying dolomite. The boulderfield substrate somewhat limits the abundance of species that prefer deep soils (e.g., Trillium spp., Jeffersonia diphylla) and favors strong dominance by the rock-loving herbaceous species Polymnia canadensis and Phacelia bipinnatifida. Tree growth on this very steep, rocky slope is somewhat older than on most of the nearby river-fronting slopes.
Very steep, bouldery slope along south side of the Clinch River, 0.97 km southeast of Rt. 645 bridge. Plot located just upslope from an old farm road on a narrow floodplain.
Stony land/rubble with interstitial deposits of dark brown, friable organic rich soil. No profile development. Deeply plied boulders and stones with pockets of well decomposed humus and organic-rich mineral soil.
Disturbance Data:
Disturbance Type
Disturbance Intensity
Disturbance Comment
unknown
Logged long ago. Stellaria media is a minor exotic weed.