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
100
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Tree Cover
15
%
Shrub Cover
15
%
Field Cover
50
%
Nonvascular Cover
35
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
This large greenstone barren consists of a broad gentle ledge at the top of the outcrop and a more extensive, steep section downslope. The plot is located more or less at the boundary of the two sections and encompasses both level/ledge and steep/face microhabitats. Soil mats and crevices support considerable numbers of herbaceous lithophytes, particularly Carex pensylvanica, Schizachyrium scoparium ssp. scoparium, Hypericum gentianoides, and Talinum teretifolium. Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana and Chionanthus virginicus dominate the rather sparse, scattered woody scrub.
Western slope of the Blue Ridge near Laurel Springs Gap. Plot located along the Appalachian Trail where it crosses a large, exposed clifftop 0.7 mi northwest of Laurel Springs Gap.