This study was carried out to obtain a survey of natural pastures in the Santa Maria region, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The experiment was subdivided in four sites: Dilermando de Aguiar, Pains, Santa Flora and São Martinho. The survey was based on visual assessment of specie's frequency by the BOTANAL method and allowed the identification of 61 species within those 45 showed significant contribution to the vegetation aerial biomass. Pains site presented higher frequency of the species Axonopus affinis, and Eragrostis plana. Dilermando de Aguiar showed higher contribution of Schizachyrium microstachyum and Paspalum notatum, which was, as well, an abundant specie in Santa Flora, as well as Desmodium incanum. The most frequent species in São Martinho were Baccharis trimera and Paspalum plicatulum. The randomization test showed differences in floristic composition of all sites (P=0.0058), showing that physiognomic-floristic types were not associated with soil types. This survey allows the establishment of priorities in management and research on natural pastures of the different regional physiognomic groups.
frequency; grasslands vegetation; native species; ordination analysis; phisiognomic groups; randomization tests; satellite images
