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
23
m
Shrub Height
5
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
60
%
Shrub Cover
35
%
Field Cover
20
%
Nonvascular Cover
35
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
A rocky "hardpan" forest occupying very shallow soils over bedrock on a gentle upland slope. Geologic substrate is mapped incorrectly as the Charlottesville Formation metasedimentary complex (Zch); rocks at this site are clearly mafic or ultramafic. The stunted, open forest is dominated by scrubby Quercus stellata, Carya glabra, Juniperus virginiana, and Fraxinus americana. Herb cover is patchy and rather low, but diversity is high. Update 2006-04-01: Tom Dierauf reports that the landowner has destroyed this forest to make a pasture.
0-1 cm (O1 Horizon) - loose deciduous leaf litter
1-3 cm (02 Horizon) - organic humus
3+ cm (A Horizon) - light brown clay loam over rock outcrop
shallow soil over diabase outcrop