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the growth of a vegetation consisting mostly of forests, 

 wood- and shrublands characterized by a small-leaved, 

 leathery, evergreen foliage ; by an apparent exaggeration 

 of the woody and fibrous portions ; by a rather low stature 

 of the trees ; a general dull-green or bluish colour ; the 

 development of thorns and prickles, resins, wax, and 

 essential oils, and other devices chiefly directed against 

 excessive transpiration. Bulbs, tubers, and rootstocks 

 are characteristic of this region : perennials are richly 

 varied and often assume a woody, shrubby form. The 

 forests do not, as a rule, attain great density, luxuri- 

 ance, or height ; lianas are wanting ; vines are usually 

 fibrous and wiry climbers ; the undergrowth of shrubby 

 evergreens is abundant, sometimes impassable. The 

 most common forests are those of ilex-oak, cork-oak, 

 stone-pine, Aleppo and black pines, firs, cypress and 

 cedar. Frequently deciduous forests occur where the 

 ground moisture allows it : oaks, manna-ash, plane-trees, 

 &c., are the components. 



When the forests are destroyed there springs up in 

 their place dense scrub, 5-10 feet high, of mixed ever- 

 green and deciduous shrubs, many of which composed the 

 undergrowth of the original woods. On limestone grounds 

 the scrub is generally drier and more scattered, chiefly 

 limited to bushy evergreens, and is called the ' garique ' 

 in France. There are many varieties of such rocky heaths 

 and low thin woodlands and brushes. Laurels, olive, 

 fig, dwarf palms, locust-bean or carob-trees, and several 

 others may form locally mixed or pure woods or thickets. 

 The elm and its relative the celtis, the plane-tree, the tere- 

 binth and the Judas-tree, are also characteristic, but are 

 mostly solitary. Of shrubs and smaller trees there occurs 

 a bewildering variety: among the best known are the 

 myrtle, rosemary, cistus, lentiscus, tree-heath, dwarf-oak, 



