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 Height
3
m
Field Height
5
m
Shrub Cover
20
%
Field Cover
35
%
Nonvascular Cover
70
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot is located immediately below the summit of Stony Man, a popular hiker destination at the terminus of a major trail. Although trampling and vegetation damage is severe at the summit, most of the plot area is quite protected by rock outcrops and crags. The vegetation is a mosaic of small shrub patches and fairly dense mats of lithophytic herbs, with Deschampsia flexuosa var. flexuosa, Solidago randii, and Sedum telephioides dominating. The long-range arctic-boreal disjuct Juncus trifidus occurs in rock crevices in the plot. Conspicuous lichens on exposed rock surfaces include Rhizocarpon geographicum, Xanthoparmelia conspersa, Lasallia papulosa, Stereocaulon glaucescens, Parmelia cf. omphalodes, and numerous unidentified crusts.
Plot area has mats < 10 cm deep of colluvial silt loam on ledges and in crevices between bedrock exposures. Soil is medium-brown, organic-rich, and stony. A composite sample from two locations was collected.
Disturbance Data:
Disturbance Type
Disturbance Intensity
Disturbance Comment
unknown
Off-trail trampling is moderate in most of the plot, but one eroded social trail is present through the area.