Aims: The Vinschgau is the driest inner-alpine valley in the Eastern Alps and harbours a unique steppe vegetation. We studied these dry grassland communities and aimed to answer the following questions: Which plant communities can be found currently? Do the syntaxa described by Braun-Blanquet in the 1960s still prevail in the area? Has there been any change in species composition over the last 40–50 years?Study area: Along an approximately 40 km transect, the south-facing slopes of the Vinschgau valley (South Tyrol, Italy) from Mals to Plaus were investigated.Methods: For the classification, 92 relevés were sampled in 2019 and compared with 76 relevés from the 1960s and ´70s by means of vegetation tables and ordinations (Detrended Correspondence Analysis).Results: Based on our investigation, the majority of dry grassland communities can be classified asFestuco-Caricetum supinae. Three subassociations were defined by the dominant speciesStipa capillata,Bothriochloa ischaemumandStipa pennataagg. The comparison of new and old relevés shows an increase in species from the classSedo-Scleranthetea(e.g.Trifolium arvense,Erodium cicutarium) and the associationArtemisieto-Agropyretum. In addition, ruderal elements (e.g.Erigeron annuus,Convolvulus arvensis) have also migrated into dry grasslands. A shift in the dominance over time can be recognized as well. In particular,Festuca rupicolaand to some extent alsoStipa capillata, have increased in abundance and frequency.Conclusions: We suggest to include the investigated closed dry grasslands in the allianceFestucion valesiacae. The rank of the character species at association, alliance and order level should be re-analysed. In order to obtain a better syntaxonomic overview of western and eastern alpine dry grassland communities in relation to Eastern European dry grasslands, a comprehensive study is absolutely necessary. Furthermore, long-term vegetation dynamics and vegetation change need to be studied in more detailed future studies.Taxonomic reference: Fischer et al. (2008).Syntaxonomic references: Mucina et al. (2016) for syntaxa from alliance to class level; Braun-Blanquet (1961) for associations.Abbreviations: agg. = aggregate; cf. = confer (means ‘compare’); DCA = Detrended Correspondence Analysis; s. lat. = sensu lato; s. str. = sensu stricto
