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
19
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
6
m
Tree Cover
85
%
Shrub Cover
80
%
Field Cover
30
%
Nonvascular Cover
4
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This is a rather dry mixed oak forest on a steep, south-facing upper slope on Stone Mountain, between Eagle Knob and Osborn Rock. There is some oak recruitment, particularly of white oak, in the understory but it is outnumbered by that of red maple. Shrubby vegetation is fairly dense in this stand and consists mostly of tall heaths - Vaccinium simulatum, Vaccinium corymbosum, Rhododendron calendulaceum, and Oxydendrum arboreum. Considerable sheet-erosion took place here in the past but is now healed over and covered with bryophytes and litter. Evidence of more recent fire is plentiful.