Intensive 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:
Field Height
8
m
Field Cover
30
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Open portions of the highest dunes at the northern end of Parramore Island support a sparse, dwarf shrubland of Hudsonia tomentosa and scattered graminoids. Plot was situated in an attempt to capture representative composition and cover, although the abundance of characteristic species varies locally. For example, adjacent patches contain relatively more Cenchrus, Aristida, and Cyperus. Unlike at Savage Neck Dunes on the bayside of the Eastern Shore, this community forms a discrete mosaic with irregular patches of dense woodland/forest containing Pinus taeda, Juniperus virginiana, Myrica cerifera, and Smilax spp., with virtually no ground cover. It is unclear how stable these open dunes are or what limits woody recruitment in this community.
