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:
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
60
%
Shrub Cover
70
%
Field Cover
10
%
Nonvascular Cover
65
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The north slope of the Priest has been heavily disturbed by recent wind and ice damage, and forest patches with intact canopy which are sufficiently large for plot sampling are virtually nonexistent. This sample represented best possible attempt to characterize boulderfield vegetation dominated by Betula alleghaniensis. Clonal stems of Acer spicatum abound; this species has undoubtedly responded vigorously to canopy openings. Numerous boulders and steep slope create considerable microtopographic variation and treacherous conditions and make the precise and accurate delimitation of a plot impossible. Soil has accumulated only in the crevices among charnockite boulders and around the bases of fern rhizomes, and hence the measurement of soil depth and collection of soil samples were both deemed impractical. A few stems of Viburnum lantanoides, part of the northernmost population of this species in the Virginia Blue Ridge, were observed upslope, but none was observed in the vicinity of the plot.
