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
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Tree Cover
5
%
Shrub Cover
50
%
Field Cover
70
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Narrow stream bottom ca. 0.2 mi NNE of Walnut Flats Picnic Area, off FR 201 in Dismal Creek valley. This plot is representative of habitat conditions and vegetation along much of a linear seep bottom about 0.3 km. long. Surrounded by acidic cove forest, the gravelly, open canopy seep apparently emanates from a calcareous bedrock stratum. While there is no evidence of woody invasion in the seep proper, canopy closure will be more complete as the young trees rooted in the adjacent substrates mature. Carex flava, a very rare northern disjunct, is abundant in the seep. Carex flava, Carex granularis, Carex tetanica, Juncus brachycephalus, Thalictrum revolutum and Pycnanthemum torrei reflect the influence of calcareous inputs while Pogonia ophioglossoides, Drosera asarifolia indicate oligotrophy. This is a very rare and unusual fen like wetland community type, very similar in composition to one near Pearis Thompson Branch (also in Dismal Creek valley) and one along Peters Mill Run (Massanutten Mountains) in Shenandoah.