20201589 Ver 1_B-5845 DFHL Survey Addeddum 8-30-21_20220112

Three Oaks Engineering, Inc.
324 Blackwell Street, Suite 1200
Durham, NC 27701
[phone]
August 25, 2021
Dwarf-flowered Heartleaf Survey Addendum - STIP B-5845 – Replace Bridge #25 on SR 2033 (Oak Grove
Road) over Buffalo Creek NCDOT Division 12, Cleveland County, NC
On August 24, 2021, Three Oaks Engineering (Three Oaks) completed a follow-up survey for dwarf-flowered
heartleaf (Hexastylis naniflora; DFHL) for the B-5845 bridge replacement of Oak Grove Road over Buffalo Creek,
due to an expanded study area. Since the survey was conducted outside of the flowering window for DFHL, it was
assumed that any Hexastylis species observed would be H. naniflora.
The previous DFHL survey, conducted by Three Oaks on April 22nd, 2021, had enumerated DFHL plants well outside
the old project study area; surveys at DFHL sites C and D were ended on the south side of each site when south-
facing slopes became predominant (sites are shown in Figure 1). For the current survey, survey work extended
outside the expanded study area to account for potential indirect effects of R-3430 construction. A few DFHL
plants were found in the expanded study area adjacent to DFHL Site C in an area labeled CB, and more plants,
labeled CC, were found outside the expanded study area (Figure 1). At Site CB, four plants were found along the
southwestern border of Site C. At Site CC, 718 DFHL plants were found along the southernmost boundary of Site C.
The entirety of CC was not surveyed; the survey was stopped on a hilltop roughly parallel to the southernmost
extent of the study area, although DFHL plants continued beyond this point down a south-facing slope.
No DFHL plants were observed in any other portion of the expanded study area. Habitat at sites CB and CC was the
same as for Site C. A North Carolina Natural Heritage Program Rare Plant Form has been updated as a result of this
survey and is attached.
1FigureDwarf Flowered Heartleaf Survey
B-5845
Cleveland County, North Carolina
A
BB
C D
BACB
CC
Prepared For:Date:
Checked By:
Job No.:
Drawn By:
Scale:
August 2021
0 200100 Feet
21-310
KMS MF
Original PSA
Expanded PSA
Original Populations
Additional Populations
Population continues to the SW
¯
Rare Plant Form DATE SUBMITTED ___________
Contact Information
Name Tim Bassette
Agency/Affiliation Environmental Analysis Unit, NC Department of Transportation
Street Address 1598 Mail Service Center
City ST Zip Code Raleigh, NC 27699-1598
Phone [phone]
E-Mail Address [e-mail]
Observation Information
Scientific Name Hexastylis naniflora H.L. Blomq.
Common Name Dwarf-flowered heartleaf
EO Number
(if updating existing)
Survey Location Latitude 35.274132____ Longitude _-81.457437____ (decimal degrees)
County Cleveland_____ Landowner _Cash Freeman L Heirs________
Date(s) of Observation 4/22/21, 8/24/21
Observer(s) Mary Frazer, Three Oaks Engineering, 324 Blackwell St Suite 1200
Durham NC 27701, 919-868-7360, [e-mail]
Nathan Howell, Gordon Murphy, Shelby Ellenburg, Byron Levan
Observation Description:
1.Site Name (if this is within previously identified site): NCDOT STIP: B-5845, Site C.
Additional areas where site boundary was expanded are CB and CC, from 8/24/21 survey.
2.Site location and directions (please provide a specific written description and also provide a
shapefile, kmz file, or attach copy of map with site marked): Southwest quadrant of Oak Grove
Road and Buffalo Creek. See attached Figures 1 and 4.
3.Number of individuals: 989 =C, 4 = CB, 781 = CC Total = 1,711
Define individual (stem, clump, etc.): Individuals were comprised of clumps (multiple leaves
originating from one location) and stems (solitary leaf).
Please submit this form by email:
[e-mail]
Or mail:
N.C. Natural Heritage Program
Rare Plant Form
1651 Mail Service Center
Raleigh NC 27699-1651
4. Size of area in which population occurs: 0.86 acre = C, 65 sq ft = CB, 0.66 ac = CC.
Total = 1.52 ac

5. Estimate whether the entire population was surveyed, or only a portion: Portion. Population
continued further south and southwest from our southernmost survey area (CC).

6. Estimated Population Viability: Good

7. Population Viability Comments: Habitat appeared good and extensive; however, less than
25% of the plants had flowers, and those that did typically only had one flower each. Small old
area of fill near roadside.

8. Phenology (include % or # in each stage):
Vegetative ~80% bud ~5% flower ~15% - for 4/22/21 survey.
(During 8/24/21 survey, all plants were vegetative.)

9. Evidence of reproduction:

fruit seedlings ~10% clonal/vegetative ~10%

10. Reproduction Comments: Newly emerged single leaves that may have originated from
underground rhizomes seemed common.

11. Habitat (NC NHP natural community name and description, if known; include quality, soils,
geology, etc.): Dry Oak-Hickory Forest (Piedmont Subtype).
Geology & soils: Residuum weathered from mica schist and/or other micaceous metamorphic
rock. Grover gravelly sandy loam, rocky / Madison-Bethlehem complex, very stony.

12. Associated species: Quercus velutina, Quercus alba, Oxydendrum arboreum, Liriodendron
tulipifera, Fagus grandifolia, Pinus echinata, Lonicera sempervirens, Sanguinaria canadensis,
Vitis sp., Melica sp. Chimaphila maculata, Stellaria media, Piptochaetium avenaceum.

13. Invasive species noted & degree of threat from invasive species: Lonicera japonica,
Microstegium vimineum - medium threat.

14. Area of apparently suitable habitat (suitable for, but not necessarily occupied by the species):
At least 5.5 acres of suitable habitat in the vicinity of Site C.

15. If the population is within a Right-of-Way, does suitable habitat exist outside Right-of-Way?
Outside ROW.

16. Topographic position (examples: crest, mid slope, alluvial, etc): From just below slope summit
down to unnamed tributary to Buffalo Creek. Also additional hilltops and slopes to the south,
including some south-facing slopes.

17. Moisture regime (examples: inundated, dry, seasonally wet, etc): Dry on mid to upper slopes.
Mesic on lower slopes.

18. Light (examples: open, woodland, closed canopy, etc): Will be shaded once all trees are
leafed out. Includes some areas of dappled light.

19. Other information: A range of slopes/aspects. Plants enumerated via direct count (transects).

20. Protection / management needs and opportunities: Could be a good location for protection by
extending ROW. Intact mature hardwood habitat appears extensive. Maintaining shaded
habitat along the highway will help reduce pressure from invasive plant species.

21. Landowner(s), if known: Cash Freeman L Heirs.

22. Specimens collected? (permits are required for federal or state listed species)

Collection #: Repository:

Site C

Hexastylis Plant
Specimen

Calyx Tube Flare,
Midpoint or Higher
(Not Flared, Flared,
Greatly Flared)

Calyx Lobe
Length (mm)
#.#

Calyx Lobe
Width (mm)
#.#

Calyx Tube
Length (mm)
#.#

Calyx Tube Orifice
Diameter (mm)
#.#

Leaf Variegation
(Solid, Variegated,
Strongly Variegated)

Recommended Species
ID
1 No flare 8.8 9.4 8.3 6.1 Variegated Hexastylis naniflora
2 Slight flare 10.9 12.8 12.5 6.8 Strongly variegated Hexastylis naniflora
3 No flare 6.3 9.8 10.7 6.2 Variegated Hexastylis naniflora
4 No flare 7.1 8.4 8.8 4.9 Variegated Hexastylis naniflora
5 No flare 6.3 10.0 8.9 4.9 Variegated Hexastylis naniflora
6 No flare 7.3 9.7 12.5 6.0 Variegated Hexastylis naniflora
7 No flare 6.6 11.3 9.0 6.4 Variegated Hexastylis naniflora
8 No flare 7.4 11.3 8.3 4.9 Strongly variegated Hexastylis naniflora
9 No flare 8.4 11.0 10.3 6.0 Variegated Hexastylis naniflora
10 No flare 5.2 6.2 8.8 3.5 Variegated Hexastylis naniflora
11 Slight flare 6.5 10.4 10.4 6.1 Variegated Hexastylis naniflora
12 No flare 8.3 8.3 9.6 5.1 Variegated Hexastylis naniflora
13 No flare 8.3 10.3 9.8 6.1 Variegated Hexastylis naniflora
14 Slight flare 8.2 12.8 10.7 7.6 Strongly variegated Hexastylis naniflora
15 No flare 6.1 8.8 8.6 6.4 Variegated Hexastylis naniflora
Average 7.5 10.0 9.8 5.8
Median 7.3 10.0 9.6 6.1