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
6
m
Field Height
3
m
Shrub Cover
35
%
Field Cover
90
%
Nonvascular Cover
5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Vegetation comprises a patchy mosaic of open graminoid-dominated barren and stunted, gnarled woodland with Juniperus virginiana, Quercus stellata, Carya ovata and Pinus virginiana. This is the only barren at Buffalo Mountain that contains any pine. Module 9 is the most open; just below, the slope drops off sharply along a large outcrop, which affords a wide view to the southeast. All trees in the barren show evidence of stress, probably from multiple causes: wind, ice, drought. On the far side of the plot, the vegetation grades into more closed woodland along small ravine. Near this side there is evidence of recent overland water flow; apparently there is significant drainage during freshets. Conditions are extremely dry late in the 2004 growing season.