Intensive 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:
Shrub Height
3
m
Field Height
1
m
Shrub Cover
25
%
Field Cover
80
%
Nonvascular Cover
15
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Vegetation in this extensive barren is primarily grass-dominated but includes scattered patches of shrubs and is transitional to montane oak-hickory forest containing Carya ovata and Quercus rubra. Plot samples the same barren as BUFF008D. A 400 sq. m plot was employed to characterize the shrub stratum more completely, but result may be to overemphasize the importance and extent of the woody component of this vegetation. Plot placement was problematic; the goal was to balance open grassland and patches dense in shrubs. Nearly unavoidable, however, was the inclusion in parts of modules 3 and 8 of shrubs more characteristic of high elevation shrub barrens, notably Sorbus americana, Rhododendron catawbiense, and Kalmia latifolia. Plot was placed far enough downhill to avoid informal trail to western outcrops, but placement still farther downslope may have yielded more representative sample.
