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



279 



From an ecouoraical standpoint tlie areas, covered with maqiiis, must be considered as little 

 productive. They are to a lar^e extent utilized as pastures for the goats and sheep, but can at present 

 scarcely be turned profitable in other manners. 



Some of the principal types amonff the maquis-societies will be dealt with more closely below. 



a. Cisirose-Maquis. Various species of Cif^ttts belong to the most prominent maquis-shrubs of the 

 island. Above all C', villosus var. creticus has a very vast distribution on the dry slopes and hill-sides 

 of the lower regions as well as in the mountain-tracts of the island, where it may climb to a height of 



Fig. 110. Kantara ('astle, with dense Cistus-coiists. in the Foreground. 



ca. 16 — 1700 m. above sea level. It is rarely wholly wanting in any maquis-society, and it is often quite 

 prevalent over large tracts. In the flowering season, when all the shrubs are richly set with large red 

 flowers, such tracts may present a splendid view. In the other seasons, however, these stretches have 

 a rather monotonous appearance, Cistus- being the predominant element. This aspect is also due to the 

 fact, that only rather few species of herbs and grassses grow between and under the low, intricately 

 branched shrubs of Cistufi. The most conspicuous herb is the pretty light-yellow parasite Cijtinu.'^ Hypoeistis, 

 which is often found attached to the roots of diflerent species of Cintuii: with its red-coloured scales it 

 animates the monotonous surroundings. The undergrowth of herbs and grasses chiefly consists of annual species. 



Together with ('. villosus var. creiieus, which is often found everywhere in the island, several 

 other Cistrose-species are often met with, especially the equally red-flowered C. j^arviftorus, which quite 

 often may occur in wholly or nearly pure growths. 



The two white-flowered species, C. salviifolius and C. monspeliensis, constitute as a rule, however, 

 quite an inferior part in the scrub- wood-vegetatiou; the latter species, which I have only found in the 



