Taiga dominates the northern two-thirds of Sweden. In the province of Halsingland it covers 83% of the land area, but only 0.01% of this is virgin forest. The vascular flora of the main part of the taiga is dominated by a few species. Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and Norway spruce (Picea abies) make up 95% of trees >25 cm in diameter. The ground vegetation is dominated by dwarf shrubs such as Vaccinium myrtillus and V. vitis-idaea, grasses such as Deschampsia flexuosa and Calamagrostis arundinacea, herbs such as Maianthemum bifolium and Trientalis europaea, and ferns such as Gymnocarpium dryopteris and Dryopteris expansa. Minor species-rich habitats occur where water, light or nutrients are more abundant or where trees and dwarf shrubs are less abundant. The effect of continuity and disturbance on various species is discussed. Modern forestry has reduced the amount of disturbance by fire, and disturbance now occurs most frequently as a result of clear felling, scarification, drainage etc. Some differences between natural taiga and exploited taiga are described. These are: (1) In natural taiga some parts of the forest escaped disturbance (i.e. fire) and continuity was preserved and dead wood accumulated. In modern forestry only very small areas are left undisturbed; (2) Large old pines survived fire in natural taiga. In exploited taiga these are the most attractive trees to harvest; (3) Much dead wood remained after fire in natural taiga; (4) Drainage only occurs in exploited taiga; and (5) Modern forestry exposes soil on a much larger scale than that which occurs in natural taiga.