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baceous mesophytes also, like the twisted stalk, painted trillium, 

 and wood sorrel, have disappeared, being supplanted in a measure 

 by such plants as Lycopodium complanatum, Lycopodium cla- 

 vatum, Dicksonia punctilohula, and Pteris aquilina, forms rarely 

 seen in the original forest. Even the bryophytic flora has become 

 greatly modified, mesophytic shade species having given way 

 to forms such as Polytrichum commune and Hypnum Schreberi. 



In many instances fire has unquestionably played an important 

 role in the changes which have been wrought, for the hemlock 

 with its shallow root system, rarely penetrating more than 50 

 centimeters below the surface, is much more susceptible to such 

 a calamity than are deeper rooted trees. One notable instance 

 of the effect which fire may have on the composition of a forest 

 is afforded by a portion of the virgin tract above described which, 

 as attested by numerous fire scars, was severely burned over in 

 or about the years 1781 and 1794. In this plot of about 20 acres 

 hemlock is practically lacking and most of the larger trees are 

 chestnut. Of special interest is the fact that of more than a 

 dozen chestnuts and red oaks whose age was ascertained, every 

 one sprang into existence within five years after the last fire, 

 presumably originating as coppice shoots. 



But while in the majority of cases retrogression has taken 

 place several second-growth tracts have been observed which in 

 composition seem essentially identical with the original forest. 

 Indeed in a few cases the proportion of hemlock has apparently 

 increased. Such woodlands appear to be restricted to localities 

 in which edaphic conditions are exceptionally congenial, e. g., 

 sheltered valleys, and where they have been protected from the 

 ravages of fire. The presence of such unmodified areas is of 

 importance, for it justifies the conclusion that although ordi- 

 narily the contemporaneous woodlands of Connecticut may not 

 resemble the original forests, nevertheless in suitable sites and 

 under favorable conditions the physiognomy of the forest may 

 have remained practically unaltered. Finally, it should be 

 remarked that no matter how far retrogression may have pro- 

 ceeded there is usually ample evidence afforded by the character 

 of the seedlings that if left undisturbed a forest in most cases 

 would slowly but surely revert to approximately the climax type. 



