The re-introduction of forages into the farming systems of central and southern Italy has been advocated by EU policies in order to reduce high inputs and favour more sustainable agricultural systems. Since legumes could certainly play a major role, landraces and natural populations of Trifolium alexandrinum (2), T. incarnatum (5) and T. squarrosum (3) were investigated. Two experiments were conducted during the 1991/92, 1992/93 and 1993/94 seasons in Perugia, central Italy. The objective of the first was to obtain the morphological and physiological characteristics of the entries, while the second assessed the biomass production, forage quality (stem: leaf: inflorescence ratio, protein, fibre, O.M. digestibility, milk and meat Forage Units) and seed yields. In T. incarnatum, flowering time, leaf area, stem length and diameter were important characteristics for discriminating between populations. Norcia and Rocca di Corno, two natural populations of T. incarnatum, flowered early, produced the most biomass and had high forage quality. Their potential as forage/pasture crops and/or cover crops in Mediterranean farming systems is discussed.