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
37
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
95
%
Shrub Cover
15
%
Field Cover
85
%
Nonvascular Cover
50
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: property of Arlington Outdoor Education Association, on north facing slope of gap in Pond Mountains, 2.12 km S of Thoroughfare Gap. Not permanently marked. Rock types present: abundant quartzite debris. Microtopography is irregular and bouldery.
The habitat of this plot is a sheltered, north-facing slope covered with bouldery colluvium weathered from upslope quartzite outcrops. Tall, well-formed individuals of Liriodendron tulipifera, Quercus rubra, Quercus montana, and Carya glabra share overstory dominance. Overall species-richness is somewhat limited by the rocky substrate, and the herb layer consists largely of a massive clone of Aralia nudicaulis.