The classification of 28 phytosociological relevés of pasture vegetation from the Ionian slope of the Sila massif (S-Italy) allowed to recognize four main vegetation types. They are: Hedysarum coronarium - Cynara cardunculus community, Agrostis castellana - Oenanthe pimpinelloides community, Vulpia ciliata-Trifolium arvense community and Potentilla calabra - Armeria canescens community. The indirect gradient analysis based on the reciprocal ordering of relevés and species, and on the ecological evaluation of the species, reveals that the floristical variation is related to both climatic and edaphic factors. The four community - type are well characterized by different structural and phytogeographic
features.
