Central Appalachian Mafic Nonvascular Cliff / Boulderfield – CEGL004143

The lichen communities on mafic boulderfields are notably different and more species-rich than those of metasedimentary and sedimentary rocks.  This metabasalt block field on the north face of Hawksbill Mountain in Shenandoah National Park (Page County) contains a number of northern and boreal lichens that are rare and/or unknown elsewhere in Virginia.