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
8
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
35
%
Shrub Cover
85
%
Field Cover
30
%
Nonvascular Cover
60
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot was positioned in an open, stunted pine woodland on the upper two ledges of a massive sandstone cliff at the south end of Waterfall Mountain above New Market Gap. No evidence of fire was found, although the stand probably regenerated after fire long ago. Alternatively, this could possibly be a purely edaphic stand. Shrubby Quercus ilicifolia has higher cover than any of the trees, and the distinctive herb Xerophyllum asphodeloides forms colonies where shrub cover is light.