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
100
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Shrub Cover
15
%
Field Cover
30
%
Nonvascular Cover
30
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
A high elevation greenstone barren on an exposed, wind blasted cliff. Populations of the more delicate species, particularly Sibbaldiopsis tridentata, have declined drastically here over the past nine years due to increased hiker traffic and the associated removal of the very thin organic and soil mats that support herbaceous plants.
Plot location: Shenandoah NP. Stony Man Mountain area; clifftop ca. 50 m west of the Appalachian Trail at the south end of the Little Stony Man cliff complex, 0.4 mi. NNE of the Stony Man summit.