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
90
%
Shrub Cover
50
%
Field Cover
70
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Vegetation of this upper slope/ridgecrest zone is characterized by a somewhat orchard-like forest of short, spreading oaks (Quercus alba and Q. rubra), with a patchwork of shrub thickets and grassy, shrubless areas below. Species richness is rather high for a Ridge and Valley oak forest, with diversity especially notable in the herb layer. There is almost no reproduction of the dominant oaks in evidence; widespread young reproduction of the dominant oaks in evidence; widespread young reproduction of Acer saccharum var. saccharum and Carya ovata in and around the plot suggests future successional change, perhaps due to a lack of fire.
Upper south slope of Shenandoah Mountain, just downslope of FR 85 at a point 0.4 mi WSW of Briery Branch Overlook and 1.0 mi northeast of Reddish Knob.