The article describes the vegetation growing on settlings and washing tanks situated in the ,,Żabie Doły" area (Bytom). There were recognised 2 plant associations and 6 plant communities which belong to Artemisietea, Molinio-Arrhenatheretea, Calluno-Ulicetea classes. Among them dominate communities from Dauco-Melilotenion suballiance which are confined to dry, permeable soils with the initial soil-forming process (Melilotetum albo-officinalis, Dauco-Picridetum hieracioidis. Calamagrostis epigejos community, So/idago canadensis community). There were recorded also swards (Festuca ovina community) and meadows tDeschampsia caespitosa community, Agrostis capillaris community).

Waste produced by deep coal mining is heaped up in the landscape, and remains there as foreign matter. Several attempts have been made to plant trees and shrubs on the soil substrate of post-industrial wastelands. But despite high financial expense reclamation often failed, because ecological principles were ignored. In European countries the optimum vegetation is represented by a forest (which is the final stage of natural succession) restoration was mainly done through forestation. Natural plant communities represent a finally balanced system and it would be reasonable to take this into account, especially when reclamation is concerned. Botanists, phytosociologists and ecologists are aware that natural development of a plant cover, particularly on row soils starts with pioneer species. They are characterized by their low demand with respect to site conditions, especially water and nutrient supply. The biotops, which are the natural source of these species, have largely disappeared, and the so-called technosoils do not own a seedbank.