| Buffalo Mountain Natural Area Preserve | |
| Map: | Virginia#USA |
| Location: | Floyd County, Virginia |
| Coordinates: | 36.7958°N -80.4769°W |
| Area Acre: | 1146 |
| Governing Body: | Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation |
Buffalo Mountain Natural Area Preserve is a 1146acres Natural Area Preserve in Floyd County, Virginia.[1]
Buffalo Mountain Natural Area Preserve covers the summit and slopes of Buffalo Mountain, a 3960feet peak in southwest Virginia. It is open to the public and includes a small parking area from which an approximately 1miles trail may be traversed to reach the summit.[1]
The treeless summit is home to rare plant species including three-toothed cinquefoil (Sibbaldia tridentata) and Rocky Mountain woodsia (Physematium scopulinum); other rare plants, such as bog bluegrass (Poa paludigena) and large-leaved grass-of-Parnassus (Parnassia grandifolia), 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.[1] Buffalo Mountain is also the only place in the world where the mealybug Puto kosztarabi is known to live.[2]