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
7
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
10
%
Shrub Cover
65
%
Field Cover
65
%
Nonvascular Cover
60
%
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 the northeasternmost outcrop, just below the ridge crest, and contains more species indicative of higher soil base status. Here, the woodland is dominated by fantastically gnarled Quercus stellata, with Carya glabra, Fraxinus americana, Berberis canadensis, and Chionanthus virginicus in association. The herbaceous flora is fairly diverse; abundant or noteworthy species include Schizachyrium scoparium, Carex pensylvanica, Danthonia spicata, Paronychia argyrocoma, Andropogon gerardii, Allium cernuum, Polygonum tenue, and Minuartia glabra. Only the dried remains of the Minuartia were seen on the sampling date, and this species likely has much higher cover early in the growing season. Abundant and conspicuous lichens on the rocks include Flavoparmelia baltimorensis, Xanthoparmelia spp., Lasallia pensylvanica, Lasallia papulosa, Dimelaena oreina, and Cladonia spp.