VEGETATION COMPOSITION IN A POSTFIRE SUCCESSIONAL GRADIENT OF PINUS-HALEPENSIS FORESTS IN ATTICA, GREECE

The vegetation composition of a post-fire succession in Aleppo pine fo rests of Attica, Greece, was studied by a synchronic method. The sites form a post-fire chronosequence and have typical Mediterranean climat e. Data on the flora of the burned sites, growth and life forms of the various plant taxa, as well as on vegetation structure are provided. The burned ecosystems recovered quite rapidly. During the first four y ears of the post-fire succession, herbaceous taxa dominate the flora o f the forests, peaking at the second year. After 15 years little chang e in the vegetation was observed. The richest family in terms of the n umber of taxa was the Leguminosae, especially in the two first years o f succession. Most of these taxa were herbaceous. The relative contrib ution of legumes to the flora after two years is gradually restricted.