085-BLRP-0132
» Citation URL: http://vegbank.org/cite/urn:lsid:cvs.bio.unc.edu:observation:12750-{F3BCC973-B4EF-4F29-A1F5-79410A8D3BE0} » Citing info
Plot ID Fields:
Author Plot Code	085-BLRP-0132
Author Observation Code	085-BLRP-0132
Location Fields:	MAP: Google | Yahoo | TopoZone | MapQuest
Location Accuracy	25 m
Confidentiality Status	100 km radius (nearest degree)
Latitude	37 º
Longitude	-80 º
State or Province	Virginia
Named Places	county: Floyd region|state|province: Virginia
Layout Fields:
DSG Polygon	16 x 25 m
Area	400 m²
Permanence	not permanent
Environment Fields:
Elevation	749 m
Slope Aspect	(n/a, flat) º
Slope Gradient	2 º
Topographic Position	plain/level/bottom
Landform	rolling/dissected upland
Hydrologic Regime	terrestrial (upland)
Soil Moisture Regime	mesic
Soil Drainage	somewhat poorly drained
Methods Fields:
Observation Start Date	13-Aug-2003
Observation End Date	13-Aug-2003
Project	Virginia Heritage
Cover Method	Carolina Vegetation Survey
Stratum Method	No Strata
Method Narrative	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:
Field Height	7 m
Field Cover	100 %
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative	This extraordinary and enigmatic stand appears to represent natural mafic prairie vegetation. The nearly complete absence of exotics (limited to a narrow zone along the Parkway) and dominance by native warm-season grasses suggest a naturally occurring community. Species characteristic of mafic soils include Parthenium auriculatum (which is more abundant than supporting plot data indicate) Scleria pauciflora, and Rhynchospora recognita. Akers Meadow also supports a known population of Lilium believed to represent a hybrid between grayi and canadense; only vegetative individuals were observed during the 2003 survey. Intensive examination revealed moderately high cover of diminutive, vegetative culms of what appears to be Festuca rubra, the nativity of which at this site is uncertain. Additional survey earlier in the growing season will be needed to confidently determine the identity of several Carex and Rhynchospora species. Many constituents of this community also occur in barrens at Buffalo Mountain, including Schizachyrium, Andropogon, Sorghastrum, Scleria, Symphyotrichum, Polygala sanguinea, and Salix humilis. Vegetation bears only superficial resemblance to a putative mesic/wet-mesic prairie in Floyd County. Further investigation into the history, dynamics and edaphic characteristics of this site is warranted. It is not obvious how this stand, which occupies ca. 1500 sq. m, is maintained in open condition, other than by edaphic stress and resistance to woody invasion. Periodic mowing almost certainly takes place, but stature of flowering stems of Silphium trifoliatum (1.5+ m) in 2003 suggests that the site had not been mowed in that growing season. Composition varies along an apparent hydrologic gradient; distinct seepage areas at both the eastern and western ends contain such species as Lilium, Melanthium virginicum, Symplocarpus foetidus, and Elymus virginicus. No seepage zones are evident at the ground surface, but soil is heavily mottled below 60 cm, where it appears to be a sandy clay loam. This site lacks patches of exposed gravel substrate characteristic of woodlands at The Glades in Grayson County, which support similarly high cover of warm-season grasses, although one discrete opening, perhaps of animal origin, occupying only a few square meters observed, and gravel abounds in the subsoil at a depth of 25-30 cm. In addition presumably remnant clumps of Schizachyrium scoparium were observed in the much larger grazed pasture on the other side of the Blue Ridge Parkway. It may be that this community was formerly both more extensive and wetter at the surface, before the Parkway was built and bisected the community. It is possible that fill was deposited to create a crown for the road surface and that an originally braided channel that supplied seepage to the still intact prairie was largely diverted through the culvert that runs underneath the road near the southwestern end of the community, which together fragmented the site and resulted in a significant change in hydrology. Plot locations was selected in the field by DNH Ecologists. Soil data from sample collected in 2004 survey. Additional species recorded in 2003 include Packera anonyma, Rhynchospora cf. glomerata, Rhynchospora recognita, Carex gracillima, Carex hirsutella, Carex bushii, Coreopsis pubescens, Cirsium muticum, and cf. Helianthus maximiliani.

Taxa occurring on this plot-observation
Change plant label: --Choose a value-- Author's plant name Original Interpretation, full Scientific Name Original Interpretation, Scientific Name without authors Original Interpretation, USDA Code Original Interpretation, Common Name Current Interpretation, full Scientific Name Current Interpretation, Scientific Name without authors Current Interpretation, USDA Code Current Interpretation, Common Name
Change Strata Shown: --choose one-- show strata (no strata on this plot) show overall cover show strata + overall
ord Author Plant Name Original Interpretation, full Scientific Name Original Interpretation, Scientific Name without authors Original Interpretation, Common Name Original Interpretation, USDA Code Current Interpretation, full Scientific Name Current Interpretation, Scientific Name without authors Current Interpretation, Common Name Current Interpretation, USDA Code Stratum Cover Original Cover Code Basal Area Biomass Inference Area Stems: Stem Diameters (graphically): 1 Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium **   Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium **   Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium **   Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium **   Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium **   Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium **   Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium **   Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium **   -all-   62.5 % 8       -none- 2 Symphyotrichum dumosum var. dumosum Symphyotrichum dumosum var. dumosum **   Symphyotrichum dumosum var. dumosum **   Symphyotrichum dumosum var. dumosum **   Symphyotrichum dumosum var. dumosum **   Symphyotrichum dumosum var. dumosum **   Symphyotrichum dumosum var. dumosum **   Symphyotrichum dumosum var. dumosum **   Symphyotrichum dumosum var. dumosum **   -all-   17.5 % 6       -none- 3 Festuca rubra Festuca rubra **   Festuca rubra **   Festuca rubra **   Festuca rubra **   Festuca rubra **   Festuca rubra **   Festuca rubra **   Festuca rubra **   -all-   17.5 % 6       -none- 4 Pycnanthemum virginianum Pycnanthemum virginianum **   Pycnanthemum virginianum **   Pycnanthemum virginianum **   Pycnanthemum virginianum **   Pycnanthemum virginianum **   Pycnanthemum virginianum **   Pycnanthemum virginianum **   Pycnanthemum virginianum **   -all-   7.5 % 5       -none- 5 Solidago rugosa var. aspera Solidago rugosa var. aspera **   Solidago rugosa var. aspera **   Solidago rugosa var. aspera **   Solidago rugosa var. aspera **   Solidago rugosa var. aspera **   Solidago rugosa var. aspera **   Solidago rugosa var. aspera **   Solidago rugosa var. aspera **   -all-   7.5 % 5       -none- 6 Silphium asteriscus var. trifoliatum Silphium asteriscus var. trifoliatum **   Silphium asteriscus var. trifoliatum **   Silphium asteriscus var. trifoliatum **   Silphium asteriscus var. trifoliatum **   Silphium asteriscus var. trifoliatum **   Silphium asteriscus var. trifoliatum **   Silphium asteriscus var. trifoliatum **   Silphium asteriscus var. trifoliatum **   -all-   7.5 % 5       -none- 7 Sorghastrum nutans Sorghastrum nutans **   Sorghastrum nutans **   Sorghastrum nutans **   Sorghastrum nutans **   Sorghastrum nutans **   Sorghastrum nutans **   Sorghastrum nutans **   Sorghastrum nutans **   -all-   3.5 % 4       -none- 8 Thaspium trifoliatum Thaspium trifoliatum **   Thaspium trifoliatum **   Thaspium trifoliatum **   Thaspium trifoliatum **   Thaspium trifoliatum **   Thaspium trifoliatum **   Thaspium trifoliatum **   Thaspium trifoliatum **   -all-   3.5 % 4       -none- 9 Scleria pauciflora var. pauciflora Scleria pauciflora var. pauciflora **   Scleria pauciflora var. pauciflora **   Scleria pauciflora var. pauciflora **   Scleria pauciflora var. pauciflora **   Scleria pauciflora var. pauciflora **   Scleria pauciflora var. pauciflora **   Scleria pauciflora var. pauciflora **   Scleria pauciflora var. pauciflora **   -all-   3.5 % 4       -none- 10 Potentilla canadensis var. canadensis Potentilla canadensis var. canadensis **   Potentilla canadensis var. canadensis **   Potentilla canadensis var. canadensis **   Potentilla canadensis var. canadensis **   Potentilla canadensis var. canadensis **   Potentilla canadensis var. canadensis **   Potentilla canadensis var. canadensis **   Potentilla canadensis var. canadensis **   -all-   1.5 % 3       -none- 11 Rubus flagellaris Rubus flagellaris **   Rubus flagellaris **   Rubus flagellaris **   Rubus flagellaris **   Rubus flagellaris **   Rubus flagellaris **   Rubus flagellaris **   Rubus flagellaris **   -all-   1.5 % 3       -none- 12 Andropogon gerardii Andropogon gerardii **   Andropogon gerardii **   Andropogon gerardii **   Andropogon gerardii **   Andropogon gerardii **   Andropogon gerardii **   Andropogon gerardii **   Andropogon gerardii **   -all-   0.505 % 2       -none- 13 Rubus hispidus Rubus hispidus **   Rubus hispidus **   Rubus hispidus **   Rubus hispidus **   Rubus hispidus **   Rubus hispidus **   Rubus hispidus **   Rubus hispidus **   -all-   0.505 % 2       -none- 14 forb sp. forb sp. **   forb sp. **   forb sp. **   forb sp. **   forb sp. **   forb sp. **   forb sp. **   forb sp. **   -all-   0.505 % 2       -none- 15 Desmodium laevigatum Desmodium laevigatum **   Desmodium laevigatum **   Desmodium laevigatum **   Desmodium laevigatum **   Desmodium laevigatum **   Desmodium laevigatum **   Desmodium laevigatum **   Desmodium laevigatum **   -all-   0.505 % 2       -none- 16 Polygala sanguinea Polygala sanguinea **   Polygala sanguinea **   Polygala sanguinea **   Polygala sanguinea **   Polygala sanguinea **   Polygala sanguinea **   Polygala sanguinea **   Polygala sanguinea **   -all-   0.505 % 2       -none- 17 Vaccinium stamineum Vaccinium stamineum **   Vaccinium stamineum **   Vaccinium stamineum **   Vaccinium stamineum **   Vaccinium stamineum **   Vaccinium stamineum **   Vaccinium stamineum **   Vaccinium stamineum **   -all-   0.505 % 2       -none- 18 Oxypolis rigidior Oxypolis rigidior **   Oxypolis rigidior **   Oxypolis rigidior **   Oxypolis rigidior **   Oxypolis rigidior **   Oxypolis rigidior **   Oxypolis rigidior **   Oxypolis rigidior **   -all-   0.505 % 2       -none- 19 Fragaria virginiana Fragaria virginiana **   Fragaria virginiana **   Fragaria virginiana **   Fragaria virginiana **   Fragaria virginiana **   Fragaria virginiana **   Fragaria virginiana **   Fragaria virginiana **   -all-   0.505 % 2       -none- 20 Physocarpus opulifolius var. opulifolius Physocarpus opulifolius var. opulifolius **   Physocarpus opulifolius var. opulifolius **   Physocarpus opulifolius var. opulifolius **   Physocarpus opulifolius var. opulifolius **   Physocarpus opulifolius var. opulifolius **   Physocarpus opulifolius var. opulifolius **   Physocarpus opulifolius var. opulifolius **   Physocarpus opulifolius var. opulifolius **   -all-   0.505 % 2       -none- 21 Parthenium auriculatum Parthenium auriculatum **   Parthenium auriculatum **   Parthenium auriculatum **   Parthenium auriculatum **   Parthenium auriculatum **   Parthenium auriculatum **   Parthenium auriculatum **   Parthenium auriculatum **   -all-   0.505 % 2       -none- 22 Dichanthelium dichotomum Dichanthelium dichotomum **   Dichanthelium dichotomum **   Dichanthelium dichotomum **   Dichanthelium dichotomum **   Dichanthelium dichotomum **   Dichanthelium dichotomum **   Dichanthelium dichotomum **   Dichanthelium dichotomum **   -all-   0.505 % 2       -none- 23 Asclepias tuberosa var. tuberosa Asclepias tuberosa var. tuberosa **   Asclepias tuberosa var. tuberosa **   Asclepias tuberosa var. tuberosa **   Asclepias tuberosa var. tuberosa **   Asclepias tuberosa var. tuberosa **   Asclepias tuberosa var. tuberosa **   Asclepias tuberosa var. tuberosa **   Asclepias tuberosa var. tuberosa **   -all-   0.505 % 2       -none- 24 Ilex montana Ilex montana **   Ilex montana **   Ilex montana **   Ilex montana **   Ilex montana **   Ilex montana **   Ilex montana **   Ilex montana **   -all-   0.505 % 2       -none- 25 Symphyotrichum puniceum var. puniceum Symphyotrichum puniceum var. puniceum **   Symphyotrichum puniceum var. puniceum **   Symphyotrichum puniceum var. puniceum **   Symphyotrichum puniceum var. puniceum **   Symphyotrichum puniceum var. puniceum **   Symphyotrichum puniceum var. puniceum **   Symphyotrichum puniceum var. puniceum **   Symphyotrichum puniceum var. puniceum **   -all-   0.505 % 2       -none- 26 Sassafras albidum Sassafras albidum **   Sassafras albidum **   Sassafras albidum **   Sassafras albidum **   Sassafras albidum **   Sassafras albidum **   Sassafras albidum **   Sassafras albidum **   -all-   0.505 % 2       -none- 27 Doellingeria umbellata Doellingeria umbellata **   Doellingeria umbellata **   Doellingeria umbellata **   Doellingeria umbellata **   Doellingeria umbellata **   Doellingeria umbellata **   Doellingeria umbellata **   Doellingeria umbellata **   -all-   0.505 % 2       -none- 28 Crataegus sp. Crataegus sp. **   Crataegus sp. **   Crataegus sp. **   Crataegus sp. **   Crataegus sp. **   Crataegus sp. **   Crataegus sp. **   Crataegus sp. **   -all-   0.505 % 2       -none- 29 Alnus serrulata Alnus serrulata **   Alnus serrulata **   Alnus serrulata **   Alnus serrulata **   Alnus serrulata **   Alnus serrulata **   Alnus serrulata **   Alnus serrulata **   -all-   0.505 % 2       -none- 30 Carex sp. Carex sp. **   Carex sp. **   Carex sp. **   Carex sp. **   Carex sp. **   Carex sp. **   Carex sp. **   Carex sp. **   -all-   0.505 % 2       -none- 31 Rosa multiflora Rosa multiflora **   Rosa multiflora **   Rosa multiflora **   Rosa multiflora **   Rosa multiflora **   Rosa multiflora **   Rosa multiflora **   Rosa multiflora **   -all-   0.505 % 2       -none- 32 Lysimachia ciliata Lysimachia ciliata **   Lysimachia ciliata **   Lysimachia ciliata **   Lysimachia ciliata **   Lysimachia ciliata **   Lysimachia ciliata **   Lysimachia ciliata **   Lysimachia ciliata **   -all-   0.05 % 1       -none- 33 Toxicodendron radicans Toxicodendron radicans **   Toxicodendron radicans **   Toxicodendron radicans **   Toxicodendron radicans **   Toxicodendron radicans **   Toxicodendron radicans **   Toxicodendron radicans **   Toxicodendron radicans **   -all-   0.05 % 1       -none- 34 Solidago altissima ssp. altissima Solidago altissima ssp. altissima **   Solidago altissima ssp. altissima **   Solidago altissima ssp. altissima **   Solidago altissima ssp. altissima **   Solidago altissima ssp. altissima **   Solidago altissima ssp. altissima **   Solidago altissima ssp. altissima **   Solidago altissima ssp. altissima **   -all-   0.05 % 1       -none- 35 Crataegus crus-galli var. crus-galli Crataegus crus-galli var. crus-galli **   Crataegus crus-galli var. crus-galli **   Crataegus crus-galli var. crus-galli **   Crataegus crus-galli var. crus-galli **   Crataegus crus-galli var. crus-galli **   Crataegus crus-galli var. crus-galli **   Crataegus crus-galli var. crus-galli **   Crataegus crus-galli var. crus-galli **   -all-   0.05 % 1       -none- 36 Galium pilosum Galium pilosum **   Galium pilosum **   Galium pilosum **   Galium pilosum **   Galium pilosum **   Galium pilosum **   Galium pilosum **   Galium pilosum **   -all-   0.05 % 1       -none- 37 Lespedeza violacea Lespedeza violacea **   Lespedeza violacea **   Lespedeza violacea **   Lespedeza violacea **   Lespedeza violacea **   Lespedeza violacea **   Lespedeza violacea **   Lespedeza violacea **   -all-   0.05 % 1       -none- 38 Anthoxanthum odoratum Anthoxanthum odoratum **   Anthoxanthum odoratum **   Anthoxanthum odoratum **   Anthoxanthum odoratum **   Anthoxanthum odoratum **   Anthoxanthum odoratum **   Anthoxanthum odoratum **   Anthoxanthum odoratum **   -all-   0.05 % 1       -none- 39 Crataegus sp. Crataegus sp. **   Crataegus sp. **   Crataegus sp. **   Crataegus sp. **   Crataegus sp. **   Crataegus sp. **   Crataegus sp. **   Crataegus sp. **   -all-   0.05 % 1       -none- 40 Apocynum androsaemifolium Apocynum androsaemifolium **   Apocynum androsaemifolium **   Apocynum androsaemifolium **   Apocynum androsaemifolium **   Apocynum androsaemifolium **   Apocynum androsaemifolium **   Apocynum androsaemifolium **   Apocynum androsaemifolium **   -all-   0.05 % 1       -none- 41 Agrostis perennans Agrostis perennans **   Agrostis perennans **   Agrostis perennans **   Agrostis perennans **   Agrostis perennans **   Agrostis perennans **   Agrostis perennans **   Agrostis perennans **   -all-   0.05 % 1       -none- 42 Coreopsis major Coreopsis major **   Coreopsis major **   Coreopsis major **   Coreopsis major **   Coreopsis major **   Coreopsis major **   Coreopsis major **   Coreopsis major **   -all-   0.05 % 1       -none- 43 Hypericum punctatum Hypericum punctatum **   Hypericum punctatum **   Hypericum punctatum **   Hypericum punctatum **   Hypericum punctatum **   Hypericum punctatum **   Hypericum punctatum **   Hypericum punctatum **   -all-   0.05 % 1       -none- 44 Prunella vulgaris Prunella vulgaris **   Prunella vulgaris **   Prunella vulgaris **   Prunella vulgaris **   Prunella vulgaris **   Prunella vulgaris **   Prunella vulgaris **   Prunella vulgaris **   -all-   0.05 % 1       -none- 45 Daucus carota Daucus carota **   Daucus carota **   Daucus carota **   Daucus carota **   Daucus carota **   Daucus carota **   Daucus carota **   Daucus carota **   -all-   0.05 % 1       -none- 46 Solidago nemoralis var. nemoralis Solidago nemoralis var. nemoralis **   Solidago nemoralis var. nemoralis **   Solidago nemoralis var. nemoralis **   Solidago nemoralis var. nemoralis **   Solidago nemoralis var. nemoralis **   Solidago nemoralis var. nemoralis **   Solidago nemoralis var. nemoralis **   Solidago nemoralis var. nemoralis **   -all-   0.05 % 1       -none- 47 Cornus rugosa Cornus rugosa **   Cornus rugosa **   Cornus rugosa **   Cornus rugosa **   Cornus rugosa **   Cornus rugosa **   Cornus rugosa **   Cornus rugosa **   -all-   0.05 % 1       -none- 48 Eutrochium fistulosum Eutrochium fistulosum **   Eutrochium fistulosum **   Eutrochium fistulosum **   Eutrochium fistulosum **   Eutrochium fistulosum **   Eutrochium fistulosum **   Eutrochium fistulosum **   Eutrochium fistulosum **   -all-   0.05 % 1       -none- 49 Viola sagittata var. sagittata Viola sagittata var. sagittata **   Viola sagittata var. sagittata **   Viola sagittata var. sagittata **   Viola sagittata var. sagittata **   Viola sagittata var. sagittata **   Viola sagittata var. sagittata **   Viola sagittata var. sagittata **   Viola sagittata var. sagittata **   -all-   0.05 % 1       -none- 50 Prunus serotina var. serotina Prunus serotina var. serotina **   Prunus serotina var. serotina **   Prunus serotina var. serotina **   Prunus serotina var. serotina **   Prunus serotina var. serotina **   Prunus serotina var. serotina **   Prunus serotina var. serotina **   Prunus serotina var. serotina **   -all-   0.05 % 1       -none- 51 Desmodium nuttallii Desmodium nuttallii **   Desmodium nuttallii **   Desmodium nuttallii **   Desmodium nuttallii **   Desmodium nuttallii **   Desmodium nuttallii **   Desmodium nuttallii **   Desmodium nuttallii **   -all-   0.05 % 1       -none- 52 Gentianella quinquefolia var. quinquefolia Gentianella quinquefolia var. quinquefolia **   Gentianella quinquefolia var. quinquefolia **   Gentianella quinquefolia var. quinquefolia **   Gentianella quinquefolia var. quinquefolia **   Gentianella quinquefolia var. quinquefolia **   Gentianella quinquefolia var. quinquefolia **   Gentianella quinquefolia var. quinquefolia **   Gentianella quinquefolia var. quinquefolia **   -all-   0.05 % 1       -none- 53 Achillea millefolium Achillea millefolium **   Achillea millefolium **   Achillea millefolium **   Achillea millefolium **   Achillea millefolium **   Achillea millefolium **   Achillea millefolium **   Achillea millefolium **   -all-   0.05 % 1       -none-
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Stratum Definitions:
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