Till': e\t-:rcri-:en oak. 



The Evergreen Oak (QiiiTfiis IIiw, Fig. p. 363) is 

 plentiful cver^'where in the Maquis, \\'here it remains a 

 shrub. Its sharph" pointed, oval leaves are gre\' beneath 

 and ma\' be recognised hx this peculiarity The edges 

 of the leaves ma)' be either serrate or entire. Outside 

 the Mac[uis the Evergreen Oak grows to a fine tree. In 

 ancient Koine the Livic Crown ^'\•as \\ oven from its 

 twigs. Pliny sa^■s that these wreaths were valued above 

 all others — even the most costly. In the Maquis, side 

 b\- side with the F^vergreen Oak, is found the Kermes 

 Oak (Qurrcus coccifrra, Fig. p. 339) which never becomes 

 arborescent here. It is rare on the Cap ckAntibes but 

 much commoner in the Mai_|nis of the Fslerel. There 

 the females of the Kermes Cochineal [Lccaitiuin Ilicis) 

 are still collected on the twigs of this tree before 

 thcv lay their eggs. These insects are a reddish-brown, 

 the size of lentils and full of a red liquid. A crimson 

 laccjuer is made from them as well as a crimson d\'e : 

 but this industr\' is now no longer profitable. The 

 Kermes is distinguished from the Evergreen Oak b\ its 

 small leaves ^vhich are green beneath and have spinous, 

 serrate edges. The stem is also more branched and 

 generally keeps close to the ground. 



A slender Asparagus (A. aciitifoh'us. Fig. p. 4,3), ma^• 

 be found trailing over some of the bushes in the Mac|uis. 

 4^he leafless branches stand out stiffh' from the wood-^', 

 lle^ible stems, and needle -like t\\'igH take the place of 

 leaves. This Asparagus is much used on the Riviera 

 for decorating and it is twined round mirrors and chan- 

 deliers in the dining rooms. The young shoots are eaten 



