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
8
m
Shrub Height
5
m
Field Height
2
m
Tree Cover
4
%
Shrub Cover
15
%
Field Cover
80
%
Nonvascular Cover
65
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Wooded herbaceous vegetation on a more mesic part of the large bedrock terrace along, and about 17 m in elevation above, the Potomac River immediately downstream of Great Falls. Local pools, wet depressions, and xeric outcrop microhabitats are present. Vegetation is dominated by Andropogon gerardii, Sorghastrum nutans, and Pycnanthemum tenuifolium and has strong prairie affinities. Species richness is impressively high. Currently, exotic weeds are relatively minor components of this community.
No profile development. Local pockets/ veneers of coarse, sandy material. Sample collected.
Disturbance Data:
Disturbance Type
Disturbance Intensity
Disturbance Comment
unknown
Deer impacts are relatively minor. Because there is no direct access to the river, this part of the bedrock terrace is less trampled by hikers than elsewhere.