Secondary succession following fire on a serpentine barren

Vegetation analyses were conducted at three year intervals following a forest fire on the "state-line" serpentine barrens in southern Lancaster County, Pennsylvania to determine trends in secondary succession. These data were compared to pre-fire analyses in order to characterize changes in composition and structural development of the unique plant community characteristic of serpentine barrens. The data obtained indicated that the flora, succession patterns and climax on serpentine are distinct for that soil type. The dominant successional species present are well adapted to the occurrence of fire.