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
31
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
30
%
Field Cover
10
%
Nonvascular Cover
30
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: along the "Hickory" Trail" on east slope of High Point Mtn., 1.76 km N of Beverly Mill. Marked with a metal tree tag. See form/report for sketch. Rock types present: phyllite/ muscovite schist outcrops and debris. Microtopography is irregular and bouldery.
This plot documents a scrubby oak-hickory forest occupying a dry, rocky, east-facing slope. The stand has relatively high species richness, abundant hickories (Carya ovalis and Carya alba), and very few ericaceous shrubs, which is usually indicative of more fertile soils. Soil samples collected from this site have moderate Ca levels and high levels of Mn. Gypsy moth damage was more severe on this slope than elsewhere on Bull Run Mountain in 2001, although the population finally collapsed (apparently due to a naturalized fungal pathogen, Entomophaga maimaiga) before totally defoliating the stand.
The following plants from this site were noticeably damaged by herbivory: Endodeca serpentaria, Circaea canadensis ssp. Canadensis, Hylodesmum nudiflorum, Galium circaezans, Polygonatum biflorum var. biflorum, and Solidago caesia.