Date of Award

1978

Degree Name

Biological Sciences

College

College of Science

Type of Degree

M.S.

Document Type

Thesis

First Advisor

Dan K. Evans

Second Advisor

Stanley W. Ash

Third Advisor

Donald C. Tarter

Abstract

A total of 223 species of vascular plants representing 66 families were collected from rock outcrops at five study sites in Cabell, Wayne and Lincoln Counties, southwestern West Virginia. Eighteen species (8.07 percent) were present at all five sites with little regard for site conditions. One hundred seventeen species (52,4 percent) were restricted to only one of the five sites. The outcrop flora included nine species (5.03 percent) that are considered introduced elements, Forty-eight species were new additions to the flora of one or more of the counties studied, Floristic similarity coefficients of five sites range .from .347 to .512. Trees, shrubs, seedlings and herbs were quantified by quadrat analysis. Among canopy species Quercus alba was·the most important element at two sites with importance values of 62.99 and 64.89; Quercus rubra (two sites) with importance values of 51.86 and 56.35; Pinus virginiana (one site) with an importance value of 92.76, All dominant canopy species, except Pinus virginiana, were well represented in five size classes. Important sub-dominant and co-dominant canopy elements included Acer saccharum, Quercus prinus, Carya glabra and Aesculus octandra. The sapling class was dominated by Acer saccharum at three sites, while Acer rubrum and Fraxinus guadrangulata were the most important saplings at one site each. Other important saplings and shrubs were Ulmus rubra, Cornus florida, Cercis canadensis and Carya glabra. The most important ground cover species were Parthenocissus guinguefolia at three sites while Impatiens pallida and Solidago caesia were the dominant herbs at one site each. The outcrops studied were little disturbed, and supported a native flora that was largely habitat specific. The vegetation of rock outcrops is largely mixed-mesophytic, stable, and without obvious successional trends.

Subject(s)

Vascular system of plants.

Plants -- West Virginia.

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