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
400
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
50
%
Field Cover
70
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The plot is located on a very bouldery or stony, mid-elevation slope weathered from greenstone on the northern Virginia Blue Ridge. Vegetation of this and similar sites tends to be dominated by variable combinations of Quercus rubra, Fraxinus americana and Tilia americana. Herbaceous layers range from moderately rich and diverse to somewhat poor depending on specific microhabitat conditions. This plot is representative of the richer and more diverse end of the range, associated with less coarse substrate and concave slopes.
Plot location: Shenandoah NP. On a stony/bouldery north-facing slope of Hightop, just downslope of a sharp south bend in the Appalachian Trail, 0.5 mi. NNE of the summit.
Profile development not evident. Substrate consists of deep stone and organic matter in most places. Local pockets colluvial mineral soil (a light brown silty loam) present.
Disturbance Data:
Disturbance Type
Disturbance Intensity
Disturbance Comment
unknown
Logged >65 years ago. Alliaria petiolata well established. Heavy deer grazing on Laportea canadensis. Large American chestnut stump in plot.