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(1) The vegetation structure on four slopes of different aspect (north, west, east and south) in the mediterranean zone of Chile was analysed. The evergreen and summer-deciduous life-forms are predominant. (2) The south-, east- and west-facing slopes are closely similar in terms of floristic composition, and on these slopes the numbers of species of evergreens and the plant dimensions are greater than on the north-facing slope. Only the latter shows a high cover of summer-deciduous species. This suggests that the four slopes fall on a non-linear moisture gradient, with the north-facing slope at the xeric end. (3) A certain number of hygrophilous species restricted to the south-facing slope are interpreted as relicts of the southern rain forest expansion which occurred during the Pleistocene. The vegetation of the west- and east-facing slopes is most similar to the Chilean matorral. The north-facing slope contains a …