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
8
m
Shrub Height
2.5
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
8
%
Shrub Cover
30
%
Field Cover
80
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The plot was placed on the lower part of a small (ca. 400 sq. m) but pristine grassland barren situated on the lower slope of the Matthews Arm ridge above Overall Run. This is one of four similar openings that occur along this contour above the hollow. About 25% of the plot is occupied by a 2m tall outcrop of Catoctin metabasalt; another 25% at the northeast corner is occupied by a thicket of small Fraxinus, Cercis, and Rhus aromatica; and the remaining 50% is dominated by a grassland complex of Bouteloua curtipendula, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Sorghastrum nutans. Forbs are also fairly common, especially in an around the thicket area, while exposed rock surfaces and crevices support lithophytes such as Cheilanthes lanosa and Phemeranthus teretifolius. The state-rare goldenrod Solidago rigida var. rigida, a characteristic prairie species, is a noteworthy component of the barren. The grassland vegetation quickly into dry oak-hickory forest on all sides.