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
10
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
30
%
Shrub Cover
70
%
Field Cover
70
%
Nonvascular Cover
60
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: NW corner of the Natural Area. The downslope end of the centerline is a 20 cm DBH Juniperus virginiana marked (on upslope side) with round metal tag #461 at breast height. A 10 cm Carya ovata located 20 m upslope on the centerline (bearing 305 degrees) is marked with tag #462.
This plot attempts to capture the more open barrens vegetation on the southeast flank of Naked Mountain. A relatively narrow plot configuration, running perpendicular to the slope, was used to place the sample over two distinct outcrops, with a small thicket of Juniperus in between. Inclusion of woodland vegetation along the NW edge of the plot was unavoidable. A smaller sample size could have restricted the plot to one outcrop or the other, but would not have captured the full floristic diversity of the habitat. Drought stress was evident on the date of sampling, with many leaves of the stunted hickories and ashes already brown or fallen. A spring revisit is needed to fully assess the herbaceous flora and its cover.
Prominent lichens and bryophytes on exposed rock surfaces included Xanthoparmelia conspersa, Flavoparmelia baltimorensis, Fuscidea recensis, Porpidia sp., Chrysothryx chlorina, Grimmia cf. laevigata, Hedwigia ciliata, and Leucobryum sp.