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
12
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
50
%
Field Cover
50
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Short, stunted oak-hickory forest on upper, SE-facing slope, just below Blue Ridge summit. Substrate is probably metasiltstone / phyllite, contributing to the remarkable species-richness of the stand. Tree strata poorly differentiated. Short shrub layer sparse. Herbs very diverse, with graminoids dominant. A few weeds are present, spread from a small clearing nearby on the crest. Immediately adjacent to plot, the vegetation transitions abruptly to depauperate red oak-chestnut oak/mountain-laurel forest that covers and extensive area on the crest and NW slope.