Grayson Glades Natural Area Preserve | |
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Location | Grayson County, Virginia |
Coordinates | 36°35′10″N 80°54′28″W / 36.58619°N 80.90779°W [1] |
Area | 53 acres (21 ha) |
Governing body | Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation |
Grayson Glades Natural Area Preserve is a 53-acre (21 ha) Natural Area Preserve located in Grayson County, Virginia. Its centerpiece is an extremely rare wetland type known as a "mafic fen", which are situated upon soils rich in magnesium and fed by springs. The site is at the headwaters of a small stream system supporting additional mafic fens. [2]
Among the rare species found on the property are tuberous grass-pink ( Calopogon tuberosus), ten-angled pipewort ( Eriocaulon decangulare var. decangulare), large-leaved grass-of-parnassus ( Parnassia grandifolia), queen-of-the-prairie ( Filipendula rubra), sticky false-asphodel ( Triantha glutinosa) and Canada burnet ( Sanguisorba canadensis). [2]
The preserve is owned and maintained by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. It does not include improvements for public access, and visitors must make arrangements with a state-employed land steward prior to visiting. [2]