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
1000
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Tree Height
14
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
60
%
Shrub Cover
40
%
Field Cover
10
%
Nonvascular Cover
3
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The spur ridge that extends south from the southwestern end of Poor Mountain is characterized primarily by xeric oak/heath forest which contains abundant Tsuga canadensis. This plot contains a remarkably high diversity of ericads and represents yet another meeting ground of more northern (Vaccinium angustifolium) and more southern (V. erythrocarpum, Tsuga, Galax urceolata) floras. Tsuga shows no evidence of adelgid infestation, but many trees have brown or missing needles. Early leaffall of Acer rubrum is obviously; this phenomenon was observed at other sites in the Blue Ridge during the 2003 growing season. Beyond the far end of the plot, vegetation grades into coppice stand of Quercus prinus, with extremely dense and robust shrub layer of Pieris floribunda. The transition is captured in modules 4-7, in which Tsuga is virtually absent. This community contrasts sharply with the dense, young, successional forest of the adjacent slopes.
