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
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Nonvascular Cover
75
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
High elevation boulderfield forest on NW-facing slope of side spur of Flat Top Mountain. Acer spicatum and A. pensylvanicum abound, although Sorbus americana and Menziesia pilosa, which are characteristic shrubs of this community type, are notably absent and species richness is unusually high. Microtopographic variation is considerable, with numerous, large moss- and lichen-covered boulders.
Plot location was selected in the field by DNH Ecologists.
Directions to plot:
From Flat Top Mountain Overlook, follow Flat Top Mountain Trail south beyond The Pinnacle. Where trail bends SSW along narrow spine of Flat Top, descend to the right (WNW). Plot located ca. 100 m from trail.
Tagged tree is a Betula lenta of 48cm dbh with tag# 344. Conduit is at a bearing of 350 degrees and 4.6m from tree.
Canopy height was not measured, but appears to be between 20 and 35 m.