Characteristic features of the Mediterranean climate are dry and hot summers and warm winters, so the vegetation there is very diverse. These areas are dominated by thermophilic and drought-resistant plants. There are also trees and shrubs which are called sclerophyllous vegetation. However, the most common plants in these areas are macchia, laurel, cork oak, citrus and olives.
MAQUIS
This plant is a typical xerophyte, meaning that it is adapted to water deficiency in the soil. Macia is a year-round green plant, and their leaves are covered with a thick layer of cuticle that does not allow water to pass through. There are also numerous stomata in the epidermis of the leaves, which surround dead hairs designed to prevent water from evaporating. The Poppy flowers are gathered in dense bunches and are called butterfly flowers. These flowers take on a fushia color.
LAUREL
Leurel is also called the laurel tree, the leaves of it is a popular spice used in soups, pickles, etc. It grows in thicknets near coastlines, along streams and springs. The bush of this plant does not exteed 15 meters in height. These flowers release buds in autumn and open in spring. They are cream-yellow in color. It can be grown as an ornamental plant or a hedge.
CORK
It is a species of branchy evergreen tree. This plant is grown in plantations. When it reaches the age of 25, its bark is made of wine corks, wall decorations, floors, etc. The fruit of the cork oak is 3 cm acorns, and the leaves are oval and 4 to 7 cm long, the inside is lighter than the outside. In zoology, the cork from this tree is used as branches and hollows for birds and other animals.
OLIVES
There are many varieties of this plant. They are an important part of Greek cuisine and are used as a raw material for oil or as a snack. The main types are conservolia, kalamata, tsakistes, and throumba. The fruit is oval in shape and weighs 2 to 12 grams. The stone inside and the peel may vary in color from green to black depending on the ripeness of the fruit. They are obtained from trees that have reached the appropriate age of 8-10 years. The olives used to produce the oil are harvested from mid-December to March. Olive oil contains valuable properties such as vitamin E, K and compounds supporting the circulatory system. Moreover, it is used in cosmetics as an oil in the production of all kinds of cosmetics.
CITRUS TREE
Citruses are evergreen plants that do not shed their leaves, and the tallest ones reach a maximum height of 15 meters. The leaves of these trees are single. The leaf blade is shiny, leathery and strongly fragrant because it contains secretory cells with essential oils. The flowers grow singly or sometimes in small bunches at the angle of the leaves. The fruits of these plants are called citrus, usually green to dark orange in color. Popular citrus fruits include, for example, lemon, Meyer lemon, grapefruit, and pomelo
