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 Height
23
m
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: SW-facing slope bordering Grove Creek, ca. 0.16 miles N of Sewage Treatment Plant.
Field estimate from topo: (UTME): 354961 (UTMN): 4120388.
Rock Types Present: (abundant shell fragments).
This very steep, convex slope has erosive soils containing huge numbers of Pliocene-age shell fragments. Strongly calcareous soils and a dry, warm aspect combine to support an unusual small-patch vegetation type that has been colloquially termed a "shell barren". It can be characterized as open forest or woodland with mixed overstory of Quercus muhlenbergii, Acer barbatum, and often Q. rubra, Q. alba, and/or Carya cordiformis. The patchy but diverse herb layer contains a number of unusual species; this plot contains the only known VA Coastal Plain station for Muhlenbergia sobolifera.