274 



Eemarks on the most Important Plant-Societies of the Island. 



C. Dwarfshrub-Steppes. Very generally distributed on the steppes of the low-lands is a vegetation, 

 which is characterized by some low, sapless dwarf-shrubs, usually not more than one foot high. The most 

 frequent of these is Sanguisorha spinosa, which is often quite prevalent over large tracts. Together with 



this or replacing it — may also be found: Lithospcrmum hisjiuhdum, Thymus cajntatus, Onosnia fruticosum , 



Gal'nm snhcromm, and others. All these arc low shrubs of a distinctly xerophile building, which in 



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Fig-. 105. LWios])ernmm liispidulum Sibtli. et Smith. (','1). 



ditfercnt ways are pi'otected against drought. Thus all of them are provided with very small leaves, much 

 smaller than those of their nearest relatives, which grow in moister localities. They all belong to families, 

 of which the majority of species are herbaceous; the woodening of the stem may surely be regarded as 

 a xerophile adaptation. As a peculiarity may be noticed the covering of the stem of Galium suhrrosum 

 with thick cork-strata in the shape of longitudinal ribs (Fig. 103, a— b). 



Above all Sanguisorha spinosa plays a prominent part in the landscape. It is a small shrub, 

 rarely more than 3—4 decimeters high, with numerous, strongly diverging side-branches, terminating in 

 sharp thorns. On account of their rich ramification, the shrubs are inclined to get the shape of small semi- 

 globular pillows. The scarcity of wood of Cyprus is so great, that this and the other shrubs, mentioned 



