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Morris Hill
Alleghany County,
Virginia
November, 2001
Morris Hill is a 650 foot (198 m)-high, elongate hill with a northeast – southwest orientation. Elevations range from 1400 to 2050 feet (427 to 625 m) asl. The hill is bordered on the southeast by the Jackson River flood plain and on the northwest in part by the Lake Moomaw impoundment. Bedrock is the Upper Silurian / Lower Devonian complex of shales, sandstones and limestones that occur widely throughout the region (see our section on Blowing Springs) (Rader and Evans, 1993). As expected, the Hill crest is dominated – at least in exposures – by resistant sandstone members. However, there is ample evidence, in the form of sinkholes aligned along the crest, and outcrops as well as vegetation types on the slope below the crest, that carbonate rocks (limestones or dolomites) form part of the Hill's lithology.
The part of the Hill on which our inventories were concentrated has either gentle slopes or southeast aspects for the most part. The forest canopy throughout the area is dominantly mixed oak, young but mature and of uneven age in character. The most common tree appears to be Black Oak (Quercus velutina) as indicated by the forest floor leaf mat. It is followed by Chestnut Oak (Q. prinus ), Scarlet Oak (Q. coccinea), White Oak (Q. alba ), Red Maple (Acer rubrum ), Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica ), scattered Mockernut and pignut Hickories (Caya tomentosa and C. glabra ), Sassafras (Sassafra albidum), Black Cherry (Prunus serotina ), black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia ) and a very few White Pine (Pinus strobus ) . Some measured dbh values in inches (meters) were as follows: Black Oak 18 (0.46 m), Scarlet Oak 16 (0.41 m), Chestnut Oak 15 (0.38), 17 (0. 43) .
The canopy is quite thin, allowing considerable sunlight to reach the forest floor throughout the day. As a result there is a heavy undergrowth of woody plants in particular. The largest of this undergrowth was dominated by anthracnose – infected Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), with less abundant Downy Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea), Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana ), saplings of the oaks, Red Maple, American Chestnut (Castanea dentata) sprouts, Black Gum, Black Cherry and White Pine.
The forest floor bears a very heavy leaf mat, which contributes to the dominance also of woody species in the low ground cover. These include Upland Low Blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum ), a little Deer Berry (V. stamineum ), Witch Hazel, Pinxter Azalea (Rhododendron nudiflorum )., Corymbose Spiraea (Spiraea corymbosa ), as well as many seedlings of Red Maple, Black Gum, Sassafras, azalea and less of oaks and hickories. While herbs were scarce, Four- leaved Yam ( Dioscorea quternata) and the tick trefoil Desmodium nudiflorum were fairly common. Others of rarer occurrence were Hairy Angelica (Angelica veninosa ) the orchid Whorled Pogonia ( Isotria verticillata ), Moccasin Flower (Cypripedium acaule ), Indian Pipe (Monotropa uniflora ), Wreath Goldenrod (Solidago caesia ), Calico Aster (Aster lateriflorus ), Mountain Bellwort ( Uvularia pudica ), Poverty Oat Grass (Danthonia spicata ), Bracken Fern (Pteridium aquilinum) and Smooth and Hairy Sweet Cicelies (Osmorhiza longistylis and O. claytoni ) . As a consequence of the heavy leaf mat, many of the herbs as well as bryophytes were concentrated at tree bases where they could also benefit from the moisture and nutrients produced by trunk run-off. Additional habitat for bryophytes was also provided by living tree trunks, down wood and scattered sandstone blocks and outcrops. The most conspicuous bryophytes observed were the mosses Thuidium delicatulum, Dicranum scoparium and Leucobryum glaucum. While down boles bore a variety of bryophytes, the degree of cover of these boles was patchy due to the dry conditions in this forest. Fire scars were quite common, particularly on the bases of the larger Black Gum.
While the described oak forest dominates on the Hill, other, more mesic forest types also occur locally at lower elevations. Also encountered were small patches of mesic ground flora within the oak forest. These will be described as observed on our traverses.
The most conspicuous insect in the forest was the European Gypsy Moth (Lamantria dispar ) caterpillar, which was up to several inches in length. At night the feeding of these caterpillars, mostly on oaks, was evident in the constant rain of frass. Although not comparable in numbers to those of the Gypsy Moth, the caterpillars of the native Buck Moth (Hemileuca maia ) were encountered frequently enough to encourage caution regarding their stinging spines. In fact, one of our party was afflicted severely by contact with one. While generally insect life did not appear to be as conspicuous in this dry oak forest as in more mesic forests, a third exception was the relatively common observation of mating crane flies (Tipulidae ?) .
Weather on our stay was pleasant throughout, a little humid on 6-14-01, but then cooling. Light winds and partly cloudy conditions prevailed.
Three inventory traverses were made: the first to the southeast down-slope to the Jackson River flood plain, a distance of 0.3 mile (0.5 km), the second counterclockwise around the largest sink hole on the Hill crest and a third to the shale bluffs at the base of nearby Oliver Mountain.
Morris Hill 6-14-01. Thin canopy oak forest.
Morris Hill 6-14-01.
Woody ground cover,
Note heavy leaf mat.
Morris Hill 6-15-01. Likely plant indicators
of pH gradient around down bole (see text).
Morris Hill 6-14-01. Unusual slug.
Morris Hill 6-15-01.
Desmodium glutinosum on circum neutral stump
in acidic forest.
Our first traverse began at about 11:00 AM on 6-14-01 on the Hill crest at near 2050 feet (625 m) asl. First noted immediately southeast of our camp site were the canopy trees Black, White, Scarlet and Chestnut Oaks, Black locust, the pignut Carya glabra, Sassafras and Black Gum. Beneath these were Flowering dogwood and Upland Low Blueberry. A Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea ) and a Black-billed Cuckoo ( Coccyzus erythropthalmus ) called nearby. Next tallied were Whorled Pogonia, Pinxter Azalea, Four-leaved Yam, Red Maple, Hairy Sweet Cicely, Moccasin Flower, Wreath Goldenrod and Calico Aster. Most of these herbs were concentrated at tree bases. Following these we saw a cluster of small (~1 m tall) saplings of Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum ) and the only members of this species seen on our visit; then Black Cherry, the tick trefoil Desmodium nudiflorum, Northern Dewberry ( Rubus flagellaris ) and a single small Striped Maple (Acer pensylvanicum ) – all in a heavy leaf mat.
Continuing, now on a gentle slope, we noted in succession, Indian Pipe, the alien shrub Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), Mountain Bellwort, Poverty Oat Grass, a little Spotted Wintergreen ( Chimaphila maculata ), very stunted Bracken Fern, Mockernut Hickory, an unidentified Hawthorn (Crataegus sp ), seedlings of White Pine, Maple-leaf Viburnum ( Viburnum acerifolium ), Downy Serviceberry, Summer Grape (Vitis aestivalis ) and Black Haw Viburnum (V. prunifolium ).
A soil sample (# 1) was taken and a soil temperature determination (T- 104) was made here. Soil taken from a 2-3 inch (5-8 cm) depth yielded an initial pH of 4.4, and after 24 hours, one of 4.5. This soil was a rocky, gray silt that crumbled when dry. The soil temperature, taken at a 5 inch (13 cm) depth on a flat aspect, was T= 16.5 deg C.
Continuing southeast down-slope, we saw Indian Cucumberroot (Medeola virginiana ), Bushy Panic Grass ( Panicum dichotomum ) ; then Allegheny Blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis ), Crooked-stem Aster (Aster prenanthoides ), Plume Lily (Smilacina racemosa ), an unidentified Gentian (Gentiana sp ), Canada Brome Grass (Bromus pubescens ), Saw Brier (Smilax glauca ), an unidentified bedstraw ( Galium sp ), Downy Rattlesnake Plantain (Goodyera pubescens ), anthracnose-infected Flowering dogwood and the alien bedstraw Galium parisiense. Here we also encountered small stinging flies or "punkies" (Ceratopogonidae ) . These were followed by an unidentified azalea (Rhododendron sp), Wavy-leaf Aster (Aster undulatus ), Cancerroot (Conopholis americana ) and an 18 inch (0.46 m) dbh Black Gum with a
basal fire scar.
We now crossed the main road that paralleled the Hill. Below this road the slope steepened greatly and on this slope grew abundant Desmodium glutinosum, a tick trefoilassociated with nutrient-rich soils, as well as other mesic herbs, the presence of which we at first attributed to "road wash". However, these did not diminish in abundance down-slope, where we successively noted Virginia Snakeroot (Aristolochia serpentaria ), Palmate-leaved Violet (Viola palmata ) ,Great Chickweed (Stellaria pubera ), Hog Peanut (Amphicarpa bracteata ), the grass Panicum boscii, Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa ), Wild Comfrey (Cynoglossum virginianum ), White Snakeroot (Eupatorium rugosum ) and Variable Panic Grass ( Panicum commutatum ) .
At this point we came to a small outcrop of crystallized chert, which implied the presence of carbonate rock (limestone or dolomite) in the vicinity, albeit not exposed. This was succeeded by the forest bluegrass Poa alsodes and Carex cephalophora (a sedge usually confined to fertile soils) under a canopy of White and Chestnut Oaks, abundant Black Gum and Mockernut Hickory with an understory of Flowering Dogwood. Next seen were nodding fescue (Festuca obtusa) , Mealy Bellwort ( Uvularia perfoliata ), a Buck Moth caterpillar, a little Upland Blueberry and, on a down bole tip-up mound, unidentified species of the mosses Dicranella, Atrichum andPolystichum, as well as Rhynchostegium serrulatum andMnium cuspidatum.A mostly consumed ( likely by rodents ) red-capped mushroom of the genus Russula lay nearby.
We now arrived at a small opening densely occupied by herbs. These included the grasses Nimblewill (Muhlenbergia schreberi), its congener Slender-flowered Muhly (M. tenuiflora) and Nodding Fescue, the sedges Carex cephalophora and C. radiata , as well as Black Snakeroot ( Sanicula canadensis ), Desmodium glutinosum, Sweet-scented Bedstraw (Galium triflorum) and Christmas fern ( Polystichum acrostichoides ) . In association were the alien Wine Berry ( Rubus phoenicolasius ), a few seedlings of Virginia Juniper (Juniperus virginiana) and an unidentified fungus of the genus Mycena. A Red eft of the Eastern Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens ) was also seen here.
It was decided here to take a soil sample (# 2), as well as a temperature reading ( T-105) . The soil sample, a gray silt loam (no hard lumps on drying), taken at the usual depth of 2-3 inches, had had an initial pH of 6.0, and after 24 hours, one of 6.9 The temperature reading at the conventional depth of 5 inches, on a gentle slope with a southeast aspect, yielded T= 17.5 deg C.
A little farther down-slope we noted the mosses Hedwigia ciliata andAnomodon rostratus on a sandstone outcrop. Here also there was a stunted but blooming Showy orchid (Orchis spectabilis ) with unhealthy-appearing, yellowish leaves. Next seen were the grass Panicum boscii, seedlings of Black Gum, a 3-inch (8 cm) dbh Butternut (Juglans cinerea) sapling, Carex digitalis and Upright yellow Wood Sorrel (Oxalis stricta ) .
A notable feature of the forest here was the thinness of the leaf mat, given a canopy of Black, Chestnut and White Oaks. However, the effect of the canopy may have been moderated by the dense understory of Flowering Dogwood, a species whose leaves are known to decay rapidly, and which may speed decay quite generally when mixed with more resistant leaves such as those of the oaks.
Continuing our descent down-slope, we saw the wedge grass Sphenopholis nitida, a small patch of Spring Iris (Iris verna) and Black Cohosh. A White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta caroliensis) was heard here. We then came upon a small patch of Violet Wood Sorrel (Oxalis violacea ), which however, was not in bloom. In places Black Haw Viburnum formed a dense shrub layer. Where it was more open, we next saw Red Maple, an unidentified Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum sp ), Spice Bush (Lindera benzoin ), an unidentified Pussytoes (Antennaria sp ), Golden Ragwort ( Senecio aureus ) and the first occurrence of the forest grass Brachyelytrum erectum.
Then, on a dead lichen-covered Flowering Dogwood there was an unusual slug, about 2.5 inches (6 cm) in length. This slug was dark grayish – brown in color with darker brown spots.
Still farther down-slope, we heard a Great-crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus ), saw a little Spotted Wintergreen and the coastal plain azalea Rhododendron canescens, then noted the thin character of the canopy and the abundance of Autumn Olive.
The visible rock here was sandstone and apparently not calcareous in nature. We now also saw our first Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera ), a sapling, followed by the grassesPanicum boscii, Variable Panic Grass (P. commutatum var commutatum ), Bushy Panic Grass, Slender-flowered Muhly, Brachyelytrum erectum, Poverty Oat Grass and the sedge Carex laxiflora – all under a canopy of Chestnut and White Oaks and the pignut hickory Carya glabra.
Progressing down-slope, we noted an unidentified species of Atrichum moss, Saw Brier, a woodpecker, either Hairy (Picoides vilosus ) or Red-bellied (Melanerpes carolinus ) drumming; then Ebony Spleenwort (Asplenium platyneuron ), the call of a Scarlet Tanager and Wild Vetch (Vicia caroliniana ) .
We now came upon a large Chestnut Oak (26 inches / 0.65 m dbh), under which there was a 30 by 8 foot (9 by 2.5 m ) patch of Black Huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata ) and strangely, only 10 feet (3 m) down-slope, two saplings of the mesic shrub Paw Paw (Asimina triloba ) .
Next seen, as we continued our descent, was a patch of Hay-scented Fern ( Dennstaedtia punctilobula ) ; then more Saw Brier – under a canopy of White, Chestnut and Black Oaks and Black Gum. A little beyond these we saw our first White ash (Fraxinus americana ) in the form of seedlings, and accompanied by Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum pedatum) .
As we approached the base of the slope, several of our party began a return up-slope, while R. Hunsucker continued to the edge of the Jackson River flood plain.
The return up-slope was by a different route than that of our descent and passed through considerable Black Huckleberry, which appeared to be underlain by a clay-rich mor type soil. A soil temperature reading (T-106) at the conventional depth of 5 inches, yielded T= 18.5 deg C.
Additional fungi collected from the acidic forest on the upper slope and identified by R. Hunsucker are as follows: Pluteus cervinus, Lentinellus ursinus, Crucibulum leave and Rhodotus palmatus (on down wood and very rare according to Miller,1979) . Also seen on this slope was a Red Fox (Vulpes fulva ), while Scarlet Tanager calls were almost incessant.
An inventory conducted by R. Hunsucker on the lower slope, where carbonate rock is exposed, yielded the following: Redbud (Cercis canadensis ), Indian Turnip (Ariaema triphyllum ), Cucumbertree (Magnolia acuminata ), White Ash, Paw Paw, Black Maple (Acer nigrum ), Chinquapin Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii ), Smooth Rockcress (Arabis laevigata ) in seed, Black Haw Viburnum, Virginia Snakeroot, Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens ), Pennsylvania Pellitory (Parietaria pensylvanica ), Slippery Elm ( Ulmus rubra ), Twinleaf (Jeffersonia diphylla ), Starry Campion ( Silene stellata ), Purple Cliffbrake (Pellaea atropupurea ), Common Many Knees (Polygonatum biflorum ), Hispid Greenbrier (Smilax hispida ), Carex platyphylla, Bloodroot ( Sanguinaria canadensis ), Wild Liquorice (Galium circaezans ), Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense ), Fern-leaf Phacelia (Phacelia bipinnatifida ), Heart-leaved Skullcap ( Scutellaria ovata var versicolor ), Rough Heuchera (Heuchera x hispida ), Blunt-lobed Woodsia (Woodsia obtusa ), the alien Field Cress ( Lepidium campestre ) and the calciphile sedge Carex jamesii.
About 0.5 mile (0.8 km) to the southwest of this calcareous community, the State Division of Natural Heritage established a test plot (their FS1) (Fleming, 1999) at the same topographic level and presumably on the same carbonate stratum. Additional species found by them in this plot and its immediate vicinity were American Basswood (Tilia americana ), Bitternut Hickory ( Carya cordiformis ), Black Walnut ( Juglans nigra ), Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis ), Bladdernut (Staphyla trifolia ), Multiflora rose ( Rosa multiflora ), Broadleaved Waterleaf ( Hydrophyllum canadense ), Cleavers (Galium aperine ), False Mermaid Weed (Floerkea proserpinacoides ), Spreading Chervil (Chaerophyllum procumbens ), Squirrel Corn (Dicentra canadensis ), Early Meadowrue ( Thalictrum dioicum ), Virginia waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum ), Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata ), the calciphile sedge Carex albursina, Clustered Snakeroot ( Sanicula gregaria ), Tall Bellflower (Campanula americana ), Carex sparganioides, the alien Common Chickweed (Stellaria media ), Hairy Woodmint (Blephilia hirsuta ), Striped Violet (Viola striata ) and Sharp-lobe Hepatica ( Hepatica acutiloba ) . Eighteen mesic species found on our traverse were not found in this plot or its immediate vicinity.
Our 6 – 15 – 01 traverse around the sinkhole began in mid-morning and extended counterclockwise from the east side, First noted in the ericaceous oak forest was a fragment of an unidentified Pseudevernia lichen that had fallen from the canopy. Generally however, macrolichens on tree trunks were quite sparse here. Following this we recorded a 20 inch (0.5 m) dbh White Oak and, on a down bole, the fungus Marasmius rotula and the mosses Platygyrium repens and an unidentified species of Brachythecium. Also present were Black Oak and seedlings of Flowering Dogwood. Of special interest was the occurrence of the two major species of tick trefoil (Desmodium ) . While D. nudiflorum and other acidiphiles such as Upland Low Blueberry prevailed in the heavy leaf mat of the oak leaves, D. glutinosum was restricted to the proximity of rotting down boles, so a steep gradient in pH appeared to exist around at least some of the decaying wood. This inference was confirmed in one case by taking a soil sample (# 3 ), consisting mostly of coarse, reddish-brown humus with little mineral matter, from the base of a completely decayed stump, on which grew a large plant of D. glutinosum. The result was an initial pH of 6.4 for this sample, and 24 hours later this had increased to pH= 7.6.
Then moving northwest along the sinkhole's upper slope, we noted Whorled Loosestrife (Lysimachia quadrifolia ) and a 23 inch (0.58 m) dbh Black Oak. As we reached the sinkhole's northwest side, we became aware of numerous mesic herbs ranging down-slope from the campground road, and at first attributed them to road wash. Black Cohosh and Desmodium glutinosum dominated, but there were others such as Common Ground Cherry (Physalis heterophylla ) . However, we soon noted that among these herbs were numerous decaying down boles 1 foot (0.3 m) or more in diameter and lying in one direction, as if the product of a blow-down. Also observed here were fungi, mostly on down dead wood, that included the ediblePluteus admirabilis and P. cervinus as well asSarcocypha coccinea (Miller,1979), Ustulina deusta and an unidentifiedMycena., mostly on down dead wood. The soil here is a gray silt loam that formed no hard lumps on drying and appeared rich in organic matter. It was surprisingly acid, with an initial pH value of 4.6 and the same 24 hours later. This sample was not taken from a location in close proximity to any particular plant.
Of some interest was the frequently heard song of the Kentucky Warbler (Oporonis formosus ) in the vicinity of the sinkhole.
As we continued along the west side of the sinkhole, we successively tallied the Trail Rush (Juncus tenuis), a Cucumbertree seedling, Hispid Greenbrier, Slender-flowered Muhly, Palmate-leaved Violet (Vola palmata), a fungus of the genus Pezizia, Lance-leaved Wild Liquorice (Galium lanceolatum ), Hog Peanut, a Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) Butterfly, a large dead Mockernut Hickory, the fungus Xerula megalospora; then Mealy Bellwort, abundant Black Cohosh, more Hog Peanut, Wild Comfrey, Carex pensylvanica, fungi,that included the edible but parasitic Honey Mushroom (Armillariella mellea), Cystoderma granulosum on soil, Crepidotus applanatus on dead sticks, unidentified species of Pluteus and Psathyrella and Marasmius cohaerens on decaying forest debris. On a small down bole there was a fragrant millipede resembling Sigmoria aberans (Levi et al, 1968 ) and, following this, a small patch of New York Fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis ) . It is interesting that while mesic herbs prevailed on the western sinkhole slope, the canopy, as well as the down boles were, as on the southeast slope inventoried previously, dominated by oaks.
We had now almost circumvented the sinkhole along its upper slope and again reached the ericaceous oak terrain. Here we noted the fungusGaliella rufa (Miller,1979) on decayed hardwood sticks and, on rock, the mosses Dicranum scoparium and Leucobryum glaucum.
Additional fungi identified by R. Hunsucker from this traverse were as follows:
Anomodon attenuatus
– on bases of hardwoods
Brachythecium
curtum – on rotting wood, bases of trees
Campylium
hispidulum – on rotting hardwoods
Clasmatodon
parvulus – on bark of hardwoods
Hedwigia ciliata –
on sandstone rock
Hypnum sp –
on rotting wood
Leucodon julaceus
– on rotting wood, bases of trees
Mnium affine
– on rotting wood
Platygyrium
repens – on rotting wood, bark of hardwoods
Pylaisiella
selwynii – on bark of Scarlet and Black Oaks
A rapid foray made by R. Hunsucker to the shale slopes at the base of Oliver Mountain disclosed the following vascular plants:
White Pine | Yarrow (Achillea millifolium) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata) | Woodland Strawberry (Fragaria vesca) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Red Maple | Wild Geranium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chestnut Oak | Slender Goldenrod (Solidago erecta) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Black Oak | Short-leaved Bluegrass (Poa cuspidata) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sassafras | Late Purple Aster (Aster patens) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sugar Maple seedlings | Woodland Sunflower (Helianthus divaricatus) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Downy Serviceberry | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
the pignut Carya glabra | Shale Evening Primrose (Oenothera argillicola) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
American Basswood | Maryland Figwort (Scrophularia mailandica) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana) | Bloodroot | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Black Locust | Golden Ragwort | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) | Carex platyphylla | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Black Cherry | Smooth Aster (Aster laevis) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
White Oak | Pale Indian Plantain (Cacalia atriplicifolia) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Redbud | Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisifolia) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Muscletree (Carpinus caroliniana) | Basil Balm (Monarda clinopodia) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
hawthorn (Crataegus sp.) | goldenrod (Solidago sp.) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Maple-leaf Viburnum | Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) | Gray Beardtongue (Penstemon canescens) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Autumn Olive | Wild Onion (Allium cernuum) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Black Haw Viburnum | Mealy Bellwort | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Multiflora Rose | Trailing Bushclover (Lespedeza procumbens) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) | lespedeza (Lespedeza Intermedia) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Allegheny Blackberry | Rue Anemone (Anemonella thalictroides) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Carolina Rose (Rosa carolina) | Poverty Oat Grass | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) | Nodding Fescue
| White Aster (Aster infirmis) | Summer Grape | Canada Brome Grass | Northern Dewberry | Great Chickweed | Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinqefolia) | Plume Lily | Hairy -jointed Meadow Parsnip (Taspium barbiode) | potentilla (Potentilla sp.) | | Wild Vetch (Vicia caroliniana) | Cutleaf Goldenrod (Solidago arguta) | Common Many Knees | Carex cephalophora | bluet (Hedyotis canadensis) | Golden Alexanders (Zizia aptera) | Hairy Forked Chickweed (Paronychia fastigata) | Blue Wood Aster (Aster cordifolius) | | wedge grass (Sphenopholis nitida) | Lanceleaf Wild Liquorice (Galium laceolatum) | Canada Bluegrass (Poa compressa) | | Starry Campion | Entire-leaved Yellow Foxglove (Aureolaria laevigata) | Carex laxiflora | | Upright Yellow Wood Sorrel | Blunt-lobed Hepatica (Hepatica americana) | bluet (Hedyotis nigricans) | | |
A soil sample (# 5), taken within the inventoried area at the base of Oliver Mountain, consisted of dry, gray-brown mineral matter, with relatively un -decayed organic matter. The initial pH value was 4.6, and 24 hours later it was 4.4.
Although not observed in this brief survey, rare shale barren plants have been documented in the vicinity (Fleming, 1999), Heading the list is the Federally Endangered Shale Barren Rockcress (Arabis serotina) . Others are Kate's Mountain Clover (Trifolium virginicum ), Alleghany Plum (Prunus alleghaniensis ) and White-haired Leatherflower (Clematis albicoma) .A further discussion is provided by Belden et al (1999) . Other rare plants are associated with underlying limestones ( Fleming, 1999) . These include American Gromwell (Lithospermum latifolium) and Great Indian Plantain ( Cacalia muehlenbergii) . It may be noted that the latter plant has been observed by us at Blowing Springs and Cranberry Glades.
Both Scarlet Tanagers and Yellow-billed Cuckoos ( Coccyzus americanus ) called frequently at camp and the former was also heard after dark.. Kentucky Warblers were heard quite frequently as well. Crows were common and a fox barked during the night.
Some salient features of this area are the following:1) the scarcity or virtual absence of mesic canopy species such as White Ash, Sugar Maple and Tuliptree, and the low frequency even of Red Maple, 2) the local occurrence of mesic herbs under xeric oak canopy. It seems likely that 1) is in part a consequence of the combination of dry and acid soil conditions. A survey of the occurrences of these mesic species indicates that conditions in the area are likely to lie outside their stability fields ( Mueller,2000), For example the stability field of White Ash is thought to contract toward higher pH values as soil moisture decreases and those of Sugar Maple and Tuliptree may be exceeded at the low moisture values, Another factor that should be considered, however, is the heavy leaf mat which would not favor the establishment of mesic species with light seeds (Fowells, 1965) . The characteristic that such seeds are also transported by winds, may be negated by a lack of seed trees anywhere near.
The somewhat unusual occurrence of mesic herbs under a predominantly oak canopy is probably a consequence of very local conditions favoring these herbs. One type of such conditions is the apparently local occurrence near the surface of carbonate rock on the southeast slope, as indicated by the presence of chert and higher pH values than elsewhere. Another type of occurrence is the association of these herbs with decayed down boles within the sinkhole. Such examples fall under the category of microhabitats. In the case of the association with rotting down boles, the forest type had been established before the blow -downs, while the carbonate exposures are too small to influence forest trees - with root systems that may reach a hundred feet - as do the larger exposures near the base of the southeast slope. In any case, the acidiphile canopy species such as Chestnut Oak and Red Maple, which may occur in the vicinity of the mesic herbs, appear to have stability fields which extend to near pH=6.0,while the herbs themselves are not strongly calciphile. The stability fields of the Desmodium species are of interest because they occur frequently in a variety of habitats and appear to overlap in the moderate pH range, with D. nudiflorum and D. glutinosum excluded at high and low pH values respectively.
Belden, A., Jr. J. C. Ludwig and N. E. Van Alstine (1999) An inventory of shale barrens on the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests in Virginia. Third edition. Natural Heritage Tech. Rep. 99-2. Virginia Dept. of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Hertage, Richmond, Virginia.
Fleming, Gary P. (1999) Plant Communities of Limestone, Dolomite and Other Calcarous Substrates in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, Virginia. Virginia Natural Heritage Technical Report 99-4. Virginia Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, Va.
Fowells, H. A. (1965) Silvics of Forest Trees of the United States, Agricultural Handbook No. 271. USDA Forest Service, Washington, DC.
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