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:
--no data--
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: 0.54 km SW of the summit of Rappahannock Mtn.
Rock Types Present: massive metabasalt outcrops and loose debris.
The sampling site is an exposed, sloping greenstone outcrop supporting scattered, very stunted Fraxinus americana and Juniperus virginiana and locally dense Opuntia humifusa and herbaceous vegetation. Stressful edaphic conditions apparently preclude the establishment of major trees such as Quercus montana, while providing suitable habitat for specially- adapted lithophytes such as Talinum teretifolium and Corydalis sempervirens. The shrub Symphoricarpos orbiculatus has increased dramatically over the past 10-15 years and has to be considered a serious invasive (and probably non- indigenous) species at this site.