Central Appalachian Calcareous Shale Barren - CEGL006037 (in part)

A stand of Central Appalachian calcareous shale barren on the south-facing slope of Browns Hollow, on eastern flank of Massanutten Mountain south of New Market Gap, Page County. Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana) and white ash (Fraxinus americana) are prominent trees in this community type, which also contains a number of nutrient-demanding herbs not found in most shale barrens.  In this stand, side-oats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula, in foreground), normally a grass of limestone barrens, is an important species.