304 SCLEROPHYLLOUS FORMATIONS sect, xiv 



vegetation, even though brief cold periods sometimes cause a lull. From 

 January onwards, in Mediterranean countries, perennial spring-herbs com- 

 mence to flower, and in January shrubs begin to send forth their new leaves.^ 

 In summer only a few extremely xerophytic perennial herbs blossom ; the 

 numerous bulbous and tuberous plants lie hidden in the soil, and annual 

 herbs are bearing ripe fruit. According to Bergen ^ and Guttenberg ^ many 

 evergreen plants do actually enter into a condition of rest in summer. 



Sclerophyllous woodland is divisible into at least four formations, 

 according to dryness of climate and soil : 



1. Garigue. In dry rocky localities this forms an open kind of 

 vegetation, which is transitional between fell-field and woodland. It is 

 composed of perennial herbs and undershrubs, and is widely distributed 

 over Mediterranean countries. 



2. Tomillares. In regions where the air is very dry and the rainfall 

 very small this suffrutescent vegetation prevails. 



3. Maqui. In rainier regions where the vegetation is bushland 

 composed of taller shrubs. 



4. Sclerophyllous forest is associated with the most favoured locali- 

 ties. 



CHAPTER LXXXIII. GARIGUE. TOMILLARES 



Garigue. 



On dry hilly and mountainous parts of southern France and of other 

 Mediterranean countries, on the southern Alps, and on rocks in Greece 

 and Syria, one encounters a widespread type of vegetation which is 

 known in France as la garigue. This has been repeatedly investigated 

 by Flahault.^ ' Garigue is a vegetation belonging to forest-soil, but 

 lacks trees.' The soil contains no humus, and the rocks, possibly largely 

 calcareous, often lie exposed ; but small shrubs (^ to i^ metres in height), 

 undershrubs, and herbs seize upon the soil and clefts of the rocks, and, 

 despite their seeming scantiness, deck these in motley array. Never do 

 they approach so close together as to form continuous bushland. The 

 colour of the landscape is determined rather by the soil than by vegetation. 

 Here it is that true Mediterranean flora develops. Winter scarcely checks 

 its development ; certain species, Ruscus aculeatus, for example, grow 

 throughout the year, and in the middle of winter one finds many plants 

 in flower. In spring, including April and May, vegetation is at its height. 

 Summer, with its lack of rain and its heat, causes a resting period, 

 during which, if plants are to endure, they must guard against excessive ' 

 transpiration. This they accomplish by varied devices, for instance, by 

 reduction of the transpiring surface, coatings of woolly hairs, the excre- 

 tion of ethereal oils, and the production of subterranean bulbs and tubers. 

 Many are the low shrubs and undershrubs, which include the spiny Genista 

 Scorpius, aromatic Labiatae, such as Lavandula Spica, Thymus vulgaris, 

 and Rosmarinus officinalis ; furthermore, glandular-haired, fragrant, large 

 flowered species of Cistus, Pistacia Terebinthus and P. Lentiscus, Phillyrea 



^ Vaupell, 1858. - Bergen, 1903. * Guttenberg, 1907. 



^ Flahault, 1888, 1893. 



