158 F. E. Fritsch and Winifred M. Parker. 
arising from the old plants on the burnt area, and an occasional 
sprouting Calluna and Erica were also observed, while seedlings of 
the two last-named forms, and especially of Erica were rather 
numerous at some points. 1 Most of the old Calluna and Erica- 
plants however still showed no signs of life. 
It may be added that although the area of ground burnt in 
1911 included parts of both low and tall Calluna- zones (the former 
limit of which is shown on the map by a thin line), there was no 
outward difference in the method of colonisation over the whole 
region. 
These observations tend to indicate that the typical heath- 
representatives are mainly stationary and reappear again in exactly 
the same positions as they occupied before a fire. A study of the 
small zone burnt before the survey was commenced leads to the 
same conclusions. This zone was first examined in July, 1910. At 
this time there were still appreciable pieces of bare, charred ground 
between the closely adpressed growth of the numerous Ulex minor 
plants which were sprouting from below. There was also a 
considerable growth of bracken, due to this burnt area lying within 
the zone in which Pteridium is a dominant (cf. above, p. 154). A few 
specimens of Calluna were found sprouting from the base of the 
old plants, and there were a considerable number of Ulex and some 
Erica and Calluna seedlings. A later examination (undertaken in 
April, 1912) showed that the ground had progressed further in the 
direction of the typical heath-vegetation. A good deal of sprouting 
Erica cinerea and Vaccinium Myrtillus was now present, so that by 
this time (probably about three years after the fire) all the typical 
representatives of the flora had reappeared, although the Ulex was 
still by far the most important form. While much of the Erica and 
Calluna had arisen from the old plants, there were quite a consider¬ 
able number of young plants that had developed from seedlings—in 
fact in the case of Calluna it seems that its reappearance may be 
largely due to the development of seedlings and only to a smaller 
extent to sprouting from the old plants. In the case of the Ulex 
minor, however, a prolonged search is necessary to find a plant that 
1 It is interesting to compare the recolonisation of a part of the “ Punch 
Bowl” that was also burnt in August, 1911. The vegetation on the burnt 
slope before the fire consisted of a dense growth with Calluna, Pteridium and 
Vaccinium as dominants, the two species of Erica as well as Ulex minor being 
quite scantily represented. In June of this year this area showed a great 
profusion of bracken, more strikingly developed than on the unburnt part 
close at hand. The next most important forms were constituted by the 
sprouting Vaccinium and by grasses. The scanty (7/^-plants were for the most 
part sprouting, but owing to their small numbers failed to give any stamp to 
the vegetation. The rather abundant Calluna -plants showed no signs of life. 
