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
200
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Tree Height
12
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
2
m
Tree Cover
55
%
Shrub Cover
25
%
Field Cover
15
%
Nonvascular Cover
20
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The habitat is one of several large, steeply sloping Silurian sandstone outcrops occurring in a discontinuous belt on the upper SE flank of Walker Mountain NE of Rt 738. Site moisture conditions are distinctly xeric and open woodland/barren vegetation is interspersed among lichen-covered pavements up to an acre or more in size. Soils consists of thin veneers deposited on ledges and in crevices. The site is remote and shows no evidence of human disturbance. This plot is located on one of the smaller outcrops, and contains fairly typical, open, acidic woodland vegetation. Canopy dominants are stunted and gnarled Pinus virginiana and Quercus montana < 10 m tall, with minor associates of Quercus stellata, Quercus rubra, Pinus strobus, and Amelanchier arborea. Shrubs include Vaccinium stamineum, Vaccinium pallidum, Sassafras albidum, and Smilax spp. The herbaceous flora is patch and variably dominated by Carex pensylvanica, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Danthonia spicata. The lithophytic species Paronychia argyrocoma, Corydalis sempervirens, and Polypodium appalachianum are present in rock crevices. Prominent lichens include Flavoparmelia baltimorensis, Xanthoparmelia sp., Lasallia pensylvanica, Lasallia papulosa, Dimelaena oreina, and Cladonia spp.