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
20
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
1
m
Tree Cover
70
%
Shrub Cover
70
%
Field Cover
60
%
Nonvascular Cover
20
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The site is a steep, rocky, southwest-facing slope over carbonate rocks, probably dolomite of the Elbrook Formation. A long, narrow plot configuration (13.33 x 30 m) was employed to keep the sample strongly centered on a narrow ledge between two small cliffs. The vegetation is a semi-closed woodland that contains abundant charred wood, fire scars, and other evidence of past fire. The overstory is dominated by variable combinations of somewhat stunted Juniperus virginiana, Quercus muhlenbergii, Fraxinus americana, and Carya ovata. The shrub and herb flora is diverse and characterized by nutrient-demanding xerophytes.