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
25
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
80
%
Shrub Cover
75
%
Field Cover
50
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The plot captures the downslope end of extensive dry-mesic to dry forest occurring on steep, rocky, calcareous slopes above the New River. The plot may be located just outside the New River State Park boundary. The vegetation is a short, open forest with a fairly dense herb layer of dry-mesophytic and xerophytic forbs and grasses. Overall floristic diversity is high and evidence of disturbance is sparse.
The A-horizon is a reddish-brown clay loam with abundant channery. There are many loose stones on the soil surface, both of red shale and whitish dolomite.