Buffalo Mountain Natural Area Preserve
Buffalo Mountain Natural Area Preserve is a Natural Area Preserve in Floyd County, Virginia.Description
Buffalo Mountain Natural Area Preserve covers the summit and slopes of Buffalo Mountain, a peak in southwest Virginia. It is open to the public and includes a small parking area from which an approximately trail may be traversed to reach the summit.
The treeless summit is home to rare plant species including three-toothed cinquefoil and Rocky Mountain woodsia ; other rare plants, such as bog bluegrass and large-leaved grass-of-Parnassus, are found at seeps along the mountain's base. In total, the preserve protects thirteen rare plant occurrences, three rare animal occurrences, and six significant natural communities. Buffalo Mountain is also the only place in the world where the mealybug Puto kosztarabi is known to live.
