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
10
m
Shrub Height
5
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
45
%
Shrub Cover
35
%
Field Cover
15
%
Nonvascular Cover
2
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot captures a typical shale barren formed by stream incision through Martinsburg shale in Edinburg gap of the Massanutten Mountains. The barren is one of several occupying the warm aspects of slopes subtending side ravines of the gap. The habitat is steep and xeric, with erosive, extremely acidic soils composed of fine silt and abundant exposed channery. The variant represented in the sample has the classic co-dominance by stunted Pinus virginiana and Quercus montana, with Quercus rubra also common. Except for patches of the xerophytic graminoids Carex pensylvanica and Danthonia spicata, herbs are rather sparse. One shale barren endemic - Eriogonum allenii - is frequent in the barren.