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The structural and functional attributes of the herbaceous sward were contrasted under three land uses (commercial cattle farms, communal cattle lands and private game farms) and two catenal positions in a, region of relatively uniform soils and climate. Catenal position had no significant effects on the nature of the sward, whilst land use did. Plant density, basal area, proportion of annuals and proportion of palatable and unpalatable species was highest in the communal cattle lands relative to the other two land uses. They were also characterised by the smallest tufts for both annuals and perennials. The proportion of species with intermediate palatability was lowest in communal cattle lands. Commercial game farms had the lowest density of tufts, basal area and proportion of unpalatable species, as well as the highest proportion of perennial species, and species of intermediate palatability. Attributes of the herbaceous sward in commercial cattle farms were generally intermediate between the above two extremes. (C) 1997 Academic Press Limited.