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
50
%
Shrub Cover
60
%
Field Cover
10
%
Nonvascular Cover
30
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot located at lower end of steep, rocky "spine" 0.4 mi southeast of confluence of Whitetop Laurel Creek and Straight Branch. This spine of shaley sandstone outcrops, with its Carya, Ostrya and Philadelphus dominated woodland, stands in stark contrast to adjacent acidic and ericad covered slopes. The rock here evidently contains some calcium and the xeric, shallow substrate promotes an open canopy habitat in which the rare Philadelphus hirsutus thrives in massive colonies.