Maquis (biota)

Maquis is a biota in Mediterranean countries, typically consisting of densely-growing evergreen shrubs such as sage, juniper and myrtle. The word is French, coming from the Italian macchie, the plural of macchia or thicket. It is most often associated with Corsica, from where the term originates, but is widely found on the mainland as well.

Although maquis is by definition wild, its appearance in many places may well be due to human destruction of natural forest cover. It tends to grow in arid, rocky areas where only drought-resistant plants are likely to prosper.

The extremely dense nature of maquis made it ideal cover for bandits and guerrillas, who would use it to shelter from the authorities. It is from this meaning that the Second World War French resistance movement, the Maquis, derived its name.

See also

• Chaparral