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
70
%
Shrub Cover
8
%
Field Cover
90
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Vegetation of this ridgecrest is an orchard-like stand of gnarled, rather large Quercus rubra, with smaller numbers of Betula allegheniensis and Acer rubrum. Lower woody layers are very open and Dennstaedtia punctilobula overwhelmingly dominates the herb layer. Such "orchards," which are not uncommon on the crests of the Virginia Ridge and Valley province, may owe their physiognomy, at least in part, to a combination of logging, herbivory, repeated ice and wind storms and the ability of Dennstaedtia punctilobula to readily outcompete its associates once established in these high elevation habitats.
Crest of Slate Springs Mountain, on western flank of Shenandoah Mountain. Plot located just north of Forest Service road and 0.2 mi ENE of the summit of Flagpole Knob.