A stunted form of woodland (scrub woodland) found in semiarid regions that have been deforested for agricultural purposes or by fire. The poor soil supports a mass of tangled bushes and shrubs growing to about three metres, with scattered twisted dwarfed trees. The species include rockroses (Cistus), broom (Cytisus scoparius), gorse (Ulex), etc., together with herbs, such as thymes (Thymus), and heathers (Erica). Maquis is widespread in countries around the Mediterranean. In Italy it is called macchia, and in Spain, mattoral. Similar vegetation in California is called chaparral. See also garigue. |
