In saddle to NE is acidic oak-hickory with Calamagrostis porteri and ericad shrubs, then next knob has larger patch of forest similar to this plot. Down slope are more sterile oak and white pine forests.;Ridgeline with highest knobs with enriched substrates that support rich oak-hickory which contrasts with sterile forests downslope. Community is a red oak-pignut hickory forest with abundant black cohosh in understory. Charcoal on old wood is patchy.
Representativeness
Medium-small patch of enriched oak-hickory on ridgetop. Similar forest repeated on next knob to NE along trail. Plot turned out to be close to ecotone w/ more sterile patch (w/ Vaccinium etc.), but was meant to sample rich.