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:
--no data--
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: SE-facing slope along Hardware River, N of James River, W of Hardware.
1:62500-scale geologic mapping (Brown 1969) shows dikes of metamorphic mafic volcanic rocks in the vicinity of this site. Soil chemistry data (high Ca, Mg, Mn) suggests that soils on this dry-mesic slope have weathered from such a substrate. The vegetation is a very diverse oak-hickory forest with rather dense, graminoid-rich herb layer. Species clearly indicative of high-base soils include: Juglans nigra, Cercis canadensis, Erigeron pulchellus, Muhlenbergia sobolifera, Ruellia purshiana, Salvia urticifolia, Scleria oligantha, and Solidago ulmifolia. The stand is somewhat degraded by substantial (10-25%) cover of Lonicera japonica, indicative of past disturbance.