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 Height
24
m
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: 0.91 km SSE of Rt. 703 terminus at Horner Run.
Rock Types Present: metabasalt, quartz, and quartzite debris.
Sampling site is a strongly convex, sheet-erosive slope with nearly 100% canopy cover of Quercus montana. Enormous numbers of seedlings of this oak are prevalent in the herb layer, along with low ericaceous shrubs. Debris from metasandstone is common here and originated from upslope outcrops that are interbedded with the prevalent greenstone. Soil conditions related to this metasedimentary belt may influence vegetation at this site, particularly the occurrence of Kalmia latifolia, an uncommon shrub in the Watery Mountains. This plot has the lowest species richness among 59 plots sampled in the Watery Mountains.
Soil Nutrient Status: high
Duff layer variable: absent to 3cm of leaf litter.
Humus layer thin (<1cm), but very dense with root mat.
A= Strongly yellow silt loam; very stony.