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
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Field Height
1
m
Field Cover
60
%
Nonvascular Cover
5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Open, graminoid-dominated barren with only scattered forbs. Grass hummocks, which appear to have established largely on moss mats, from mosaic with cobble patches devoid of vascular vegetation. Substrate is loose and evidently weathers easily; plates may break off upon freeze-thaw action or under heavy precipitation. Open rock is moist one day after heavy rain, but unlike other barrens in vicinity, no surface runoff is evident, nor does there appear to be any seepage from upslope. Old ATV trail exits opening just below plot, but disturbance within opening, but disturbance within barren seems minimal. Barren extends upslope from plot ca. 20 m and northeast along contour ca. 25 m; narrow line of Juniperus nearly bisects opening into two discrete sections. Surrounding matrix of Montane Dry Calcareous Forest/Woodland contains Quercus muhlenbergii, Juniperus virginiana, and Cercis canadensis. All taxa but grasses were sampled 1999-05-06; cover of grasses was estimated 1999-09-21.
From Quercus muhlenbergii (38 cm dbh) at edge of woodland on western side of opening: 9.7 m @ 65 deg to corner 1.
