Brown Shale Barrens and Wolf Creek Chert Barrens are small, high-quality natural forest openings in extreme southwestern Illinois. Brown Barrens, dominated by Quercus stellata and Schizachyrium scoparium, and Wolf Creek Barrens, dominated by Quercus stellata, Ulmus alata and Fraxinus americana, are increasing in woody cover as documented by examining aerial photographs. To obtain preburn floristics and vegetation data, thirty 0.005 ha circular permanent plots were sampled in 1988 at Brown Barrens using a modified Daubenmire canopy cover method. In 1989, twenty-eight similar plots were established and sampled at Wolf Creek. Both sites were resampled in 1990 following spring prescribed burns. The fires did not significantly reduce the arboreal component nor increase the herbaceous component of either study site during the 1990 growing season.