Autochthonous vascular pasture fl ora was researched at the localities of two family owned farms which breed sheep, situated on the Ćićarija mountain (Istria, Croatia). During research conducted in 2003 and 2004, a total of 314 plant taxa (279 species, 34 subspecies and 1 variety) were found. The taxa belonged to 173 genera and 45 families. Th e most dominant families are: Asteraceae with 49 species and 2 subspecies, and Poaceae with 34 species and 4 subspecies, followed by Lamiaceae with 26 species and 6 subspecies, and Fabaceae with 22 species and 6 subspecies. According to analysis of life forms, the most numerous are hemicryptophytes (53.82%) and therophytes (22.93%). Phytogeographical analysis has shown that the most pasture plants belong to the Mediterranean fl oral element (32.91%) and Euro-Asiatic floral element (29.17%).

vascular pasture flora; Ćićarija; Istria; Croatia

Published by University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagreb, CROATIA
Sponsored by Ministry Science and Education of the Republic of Croatia