Fabaceae in Epirus

In this paper, the family of Fabaceae is presented. Their place in the plant kingdom is notified and their importance is generally emphasized. Their relation to cattle breeding in Ipirus is discussed and there is also an historical review of this relation. A list of 200 taxa belonging in 45 genera, 188 species and 12 subspecies, concerning Ipirus is given. The distribution of the most important genera is commented. We strongly emphasize to some genera like: Trifolium which numbers 49 species in Ipirus out of 72 in the whole Greece, Vicia which numbers 19 species in Ipirus out of a total of 30, Medicago which numbers 16 species in Ipirus out of 25 in the whole Greece. There is a discussion of the cultivated species of Fabaceae in Ipirus and the big importance of the genus Medicago. Finally, some personal views about the management of the local rangelands are presented.