Downstream river becomes wider, less rapid. Above plot is upland mesic oak forest, then railroad. Towards river is a narrow zone of prairie. Up and downstream is riverscour woodland without pine.;Bouldery beach downstream from the last rapids along the Gauley. Community is a woodland of Virginia pine with river birch and shrubs. Includes a mix of dry-sterile site indicators (pine, mountain laurel) mixed with floodplain indicators (alder, Indiangrass). Older pine are clustered around boulders which may provide protection from flooding. Pine saplings are scattered throughout plot. Those in loose sand are likely to be eliminated by large flood events.
Representativeness
Plot sampled after pine signature was delineated from air photo! Small patch narrow zone. Plot placed in widest portion of stand, elsewhere this community occurs as a single line of pine trees.