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
14
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
7
m
Tree Cover
50
%
Shrub Cover
10
%
Field Cover
50
%
Nonvascular Cover
55
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot captures a repeating woodland associated with exposed outcrops of phyllite and schist along the spine-like summit of Smith Mountain, ca. 1.3 mi. NE of the Smith Mountain dam on the Roanoke River. Vegetation is an open woodland of stunted oaks and hickories, with occasional patches of Pinus virginiana; it follows the ridge spine and alos occurs in patches on the south-facing slope of the mountain, where larger outcroppings occur. Rocks are covered with lichens and mosses, with patches of Piptochaetium avenaceum, Carex pensylvanica, and other graminoids growing in organic mats over bedrock. Drought stress in the form of dead and dying pines was evident at the site.