Resumo. The aim of this work was to study the composition and structure of the herbaceous and tree regeneration community and to evaluate the negative consequences of these descriptors of the community which were generated from the record of area use (deforestation to produce vegetal coal). This study was undertaken in a 40-year-old secondary Dense Ombrophilous Forest in Juquitiba, SP, and the herb layer was defined by the presence of herbs, sub-shrubs, shrubs and vine species. Tree regeneration was defined by the presence of palms and tree species, from 10 cm to 1.30 m of height. Fourty-eight samples of 2 x 2 m were located systematically along the delineated area, a total of 192 m2. 130 species were registered, most of which were composed of tree species in regeneration (85), followed by herbs (17). Half of the total importance value was occupied by 11 tree species, besides one of each life habit surveyed. The presence of ruderal species and a low number of herbaceous species typical of understory show that the area has suffered several damages. Furthermore, the floristic diversity of the herbaceous layer is mainly due to the high richness of the trees species that are in regeneration and not to the typical species of this layer.