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 Cover
50
%
Shrub Cover
70
%
Field Cover
70
%
Nonvascular Cover
30
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The plot documents a beautiful and pristine, dry ash-hickory woodland on a basic substrate. Dominant canopy trees are somewhat stunted and widely spaced, providing ample illumination for a rich diversity of shrubs and herbaceous species. Local seepage through bedrock was evident on the date following several inches of rain during the preceding week. The state rare grass Muhlenbergia glomerata thrives abundantly in these ephemeral seepage area.
Western slope of the Blue Ridge near Laurel Springs Gap. Plot located in a dry, rocky woodland just west of a large, sloping greenstone outcrop, ca. 0.4 mi downslope from the Blue Ridge Parkway and 0.8 mi WNW of Laurel Springs Gap.