278 



Remarks ou the most Importaut Plant-Societies of the Island. 



and no traveller can fail to notice these copse-woods that occupy such large parts of the surface of the 

 island, perhaps mainly of the coast-tracts. 



The maquis-scrubs have a considerable part of their species in common partly with certain steppe- 

 societies, especially the dwarfshrub-steppes, and partly with the woods of tlie island. They may be said to 

 occupy an intermediate position between these societies, and in their various piincipal types they approach 

 either the one or the other of these co-ordinate societies. Where to draw the line between dwarfshrub- 

 steppes and maquis on one side and between maquis and wood on the other, will always to some extent 

 be subject to individual judgment. Scrub-societies, where together with Scmguisorha sphiosa, Thymus 

 ccqntatus and other characteristic forms of the dwarfshrub-steppes, also the species of Cidus, Rhamni(!> 

 oleoides, Fistacia Lentiscus, Tlujmelaea Tartonraira or other similar small shrubs occur, constituting formations. 



i 



J. p. Foscolo, Phot. 

 Fig. 109. Tlie Convent of Bella-Pays. The surrounding- Hills are chiefly covered 

 with open Maquis-growths. 



I have thought it suitable to regard as maquis; these shrubs never occur in mentionable numbers in the 

 typical steppe-societies. I have also, although with doubts, chosen to refer to the maquis-scrubs those 

 copse-societies in which Junijterus phvenicea is the prevalent shrub; especially in the eastern part of the 

 island they have a rather great distribution. These junipei-serubs might also with almost as much right 

 be regarded as wood-societies, but as ./. phoenicea only exeptionally grows up to such dimensions as to 

 obtain the character of a tree, and as especially the under-growth of these copses have so much in common 

 with the other maquis-scrubs, 1 have considered it right to deal with them in connection with the 

 maquis-societies. 



Also from a genetic point of view there is a close connection between the maquis and the woods. 

 We know from the descriptions of the ancient authors, that Cyprus in former days has been far richer in 

 wood than at present. In the course of time the woods have over large tracts been either felled down 

 or distroyed by other means, and there are many circumstances indicating that considerable parts of the 

 tracts, now covered with maquis-scrubs, have once been wooded. The scattered specimens of P'mus 

 halepensis, Cupressus sempervirens, Olea europaea, Ceratonia Siliqua, Oi-ataegus Azarolus, Ficus carica a. o., 

 stunted specimens of which are often found on the maquis-covered mountain-sides, must doubtless in many 

 cases be regarded as the last remnants of the ancient woods. 



