Plant Diversity of Pastures on the Family

Autochthonous vascular pasture fl ora was researched at the localities of three family owned farms which breed sheep, situated on the south part of Istria (Croatia). During research conducted in 2003 and 2004, a total of 330 plant taxa (302 species, 27 subspecies and one variety) were found. Th e taxa belonged to 197 genera and 44 families. Th e most dominant families are: Asteraceae with 57 species and three subspecies, followed by Fabaceae with 38 species, six subspecies and one variety, and Poaceae with 41 species and one subspecies. According to analysis of life forms, the most numerous are hemicryptophytes (48.48%). Relatively high presence of therophytes (34.24%) suggesting the great infl uence of the eumediterranean zone. Phytogeographical analysis has shown that the most pasture plants belong to the Mediterranean fl oral element (33.64%), followed by Euro-Asiatic fl oral element (23.94%) and widespread plants (16.67%). Key words autochthonous vascular pasture fl ora, family farm, Istria, Croati