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
30
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
7
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
20
%
Field Cover
45
%
Nonvascular Cover
25
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
A rocky oak-hickory forest on the SW slope of a small diabase knob along Elklick Run, in the northern Piedmont Culpeper (Triassic) Basin. This stand has not been disturbed in quite some time (except likely by periodic grazing), although it was likely cut over at the time part of the large flatrock on the hilltop above was quarried, perhaps 100 years ago. This is a very mixed stand of several oaks and hickories, with Juniperus virginiana common in the understory and very high herb richness of both graminoids and forbs. A few exotics are present at low cover. Overall species richness is exceptional (107 taxa / 400 sq. m.).