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Mediterranean biotic and abiotic conditions, with severe drought, high temperatures, decreasing rainfall and increasing human disturbances are expected to have negative impacts on vegetation. Functional traits can be used to understand the relationship between plants and the environmental conditions, including grazing, under which they grow. Plant traits of Stipa tenacissima L., the most abundant and multi-used species in North African montane arid rangeland, are studied under three grazing regimes (full exclusion, seasonal and continuous grazing). Results confirmed that S. tenacissima traits are strongly affected by the grazing regimes. Leaf water content, bio-volume (the volume occupied by the above ground biomass) and the specific contribution of Stipa (the proportion of the species among the total plants founded) are higher under seasonal grazing. Hence this last management is recommended for the sustainability of both plant and rangelands.