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True extensive livestock systems-those based on the use of permanent pastures and grazable agricultural co-products, with low use of external production factors, and which promote ecosystem services, combat desertification and create economic conditions for the population to settle in the territory-are probably one of the most vital ecosystems in the world, particularly in the Mediterranean. These agrarian systems provide us high quality products, fodder, ecosystem services and harbour a great plant and animal biodiversity, both above and below the soil surface. In some regions of the world, the area of permanent pasture has decreased and changes in land use continue to threaten its extent. In Portugal, many of these pastures (which occupy > 50% of the utilised agricultural area) need to be restored, preferably using nature itself, and thus increase agricultural productivity and soil health, as well as improving land management. INIA V-Elvas (southern Portugal) has morphologically and phenologically characterised a collection of 66 ecotypes belonging to the genera Ornithopus and Trifolium genera. The aim is to evaluate ecotypes of native legume species of mainland Portugal which have the potential to successfully establish and develop under very limiting agro-ecological conditions. Descriptors developed by INIA V-Elvas, based on those developed by "Bioversity International" and UPOV-International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants for species in the same group, were used to characterise this plant material. High winter growth and early flowering are important descriptors for the improvement of the Mediterranean agro-sylvo-pastoral sector. So, the ecotypes considered to have the best potential are: Ornitopus compressus 15692 e 15682; Ornithopus pinnatus 13563; Trifolium cherleri 15710; Trifolium glomeratum 15648 and Trifolium lappaceum 14174.