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 Height
11
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
0
m
Tree Cover
15
%
Shrub Cover
12
%
Field Cover
45
%
Nonvascular Cover
70
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The plot captures a variant of the Tinker Mountain sandstone woodlands that is largely deciduous and in which Quercus stellata and Fraxinus americana are the most characteristic trees. Vegetation physiognomy at this site is characterized by clumps of trees in areas where thin soil has accumulated, interspersed with bedrock pavements covered by Selaginella rupestris, bryophytes and lichens. A long, narrow plot configuration was used to capture both variants in roughly equal proportions and to facilitate the process of sampling on the steep slope. On the survey date, vegetation showed signs of advanced drought stress: deciduous trees had dropped most of their leaves and herbaceous plants were generally brown and/or withered.
