Habitat Types
January 2002
WOODLAND vegetation, known in Maltese as “bosk”, is the ecological climax in the Maltese Islands and is normally encountered in sheltered locations, which enable the growth of large, tall trees; only a few small remnants survive. The Mediterranean sclerophyll forest is dominated by the Holm Oak (Quercus ilex, Ballut), together with smaller trees (similar to the species that dominate maquis habitats), and creepers as undergrowth. Coniferous woodland is dominated by Aleppo Pine (Pinus halepensis, Znuber), which can grow in more exposed areas. It supports relatively little undergrowth.
MAQUIS known in Maltese as “makkja”, consists of lower-growing trees and tall shrubs, withcreepers as undergrowth. It is typically predominant on sheltered slopes (including valley sides), and generally substitutes woodland where this has been destroyed. Important components of maquis include the Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis, Rand), Myrtle (Myrtus communis, Rihan), Carob (Ceratonia siliqua, Harrub), Olive Tree (Olea europaea, Zebbug), Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna, Zaghrun), Azarole (Crataegus azarolus, Ghanzalor) and Ivy (Hedera helix, Liedna). In turn, these support an important undergrowth largely composed of herbaceous plants such as the Acanthus (Acanthus mollis, Hannewija). The Alerce (Tetraclinis articulata, Gharghar), Malta’s National Tree, forms a coniferous maquis of which only scanty remnants survive in the wild; it can grow in relatively exposed areas.
GARIGUE ( known in Maltese as “xaghri”), is dominated by low to moderately high woody shrubs such as Thyme (Thymus capitatus, Saghtar), Heath (Erica multiflora, Savina), Shrubby Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis hermanniae, Hatba s-Sewda) and the Spurge (Euphorbia melitensis, Tenghud tax-Xaghri); herbaceous plants such as the Seaside Squill (Urginea pancration, Ghansar) are also present between the shrubs. In the Maltese Islands, garigue communities are normally associated with exposed rocky land with characteristic small soil pockets, but it is important to note that healthy garigues display numerous localised variations determined to some extent by the degree of exposure to the wind and by the precise nature of the terrain. Thus, some garigues support individual plant species that are largely confined to that locality. In less exposed rocky areas such as steep valley sides, a habitat intermediate in character between garrigue and maquis develops (the vegetation height varies in an undefined manner according to the degree of exposure to prevailing winds); this is generally known as high garigue and is typically dominated by the Tree Spurge (Euphorbia dendroides, Tenghud tas-sigra). Similar plants, which must be adapted to growth on near-vertical planes in addition to the harsh rocky surface, grow on cliff faces; such rupestral vegetation includes the endemic Maltese Salt Tree (Darniella melitensis, Xebb) and Maltese national plant Palaeocyanus crassifolius (Widnet il-Bahar), as well as the Caper (Capparis orientalis, Kappar).
ROCKY STEPPE develops where the original garrigue has been degraded through continuous disturbance, and consists of herbaceous plants (but not woody shrubs), which also occur in the garigue but become more dominant here. These include the Seaside Squill (Urginea pancration, Ghansar), the Asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus, Berwieq), the Ferule (Ferula communis, Ferla) and numerous grasses. GRASS STEPPE or grassland, known in Maltese as “moxa” (sometimes misspelt as “moghxa”), is a similar habitat that develops on derelict agricultural land. CLAY STEPPE, which develops naturally on clay slopes, is described separately in below; analogous steppes also develop naturally as edaphic climaxes in other areas.
WATERCOURSES, permanent springs, small-scale temporary / permanent streams and freshwater wetlands (including ponds which evolved, or were converted into, semi-natural environments) support a characteristic vegetation which requires an abundant water supply. Such vegetation includes Rushes (Simar) such as Holoschoenus vulgaris, Bolboschoenus maritimus and Juncus spp., Sedges (Carex spp., Soghda) and the Bullrush (Typha domingensis, Buda). Riparian woodland, also known as broadleaved deciduous woodland also thrives mainly in or near watercourses. This type of woodland, which consists of White Poplar (Populus alba, Luq), the Willows (Salix pedicellata and Salix alba, Safsaf), the Ash (Fraxinus angustifolia, Fraxxnu) and the Mediterranean Elm (Ulmus canescens, Nemmiesa), is now almost extinct since many valley beds have been converted into fields, dredged, built up or covered with concrete. Humid, sheltered environments in the immediate proximity of the above-mentioned wet habitats, or in the vicinity of groundwater seepage points and shady rockfaces, are often dominated by the Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris, Tursin il-bir) and, in a few instances, by the uncommon Horsetail (Equisetum sp.). In rocky areas such as garigue and rocky steppe, small temporary pools (kamenitzas) develop during the rainy season; these also support small but attractive plants such as the rare Damasonium bourgaei.
COASTAL VEGETATION is adapted to saline conditions. The dominant tree is the Tamarisk (Tamarix africana, Bruka); this tree can also withstand partial inundation and may be planted right near the water's edge. The Golden Samphire (Inula crithmoides, Xorbett or Xurbebb) and the Shrubby Orache (Atriplex halimus, Bjanka), which is frequently used as a hedge plant, also thrive in such conditions. Several valley mouths also support saline marshlands at their land-sea interface; vegetation inhabiting such areas, such as the Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus, Ghadiba or Sigra tal-virgi), the Lesser Reed (Phragmites australis, Qasab ir-rih), the Orache (Atriplex prostrata, Selq) and some rushes of the genus Juncus (Simar), must withstand fluctuations in soil salinity as well as periodic alternations between inundation and drought.
SAND DUNES, known in Maltese as “gharam tar-ramel”, develop at the rear of sandy beaches. They support hardy plants that are capable of growing in loose sand, binding it with their roots and thereby stabilising it. Such plants, which are also salt-tolerant, include the Sea Daffodil (Pancratium maritimum, Narcis il-bahar), the Sea Holly (Eryngium maritimum, Xewk tar-ramel), the Sand Dropseed (Sporobolus arenarius) and the Sand Couch-Grass (Elytrigia juncea [=Elymus farctus, Agropyron junceum, A. farctus]). The latter two species are important sand stabilisers and are thus particularly useful for the re-establisment of sand dune ecosystems where these have been severely degraded.
Like sand dunes, CLAY SLOPES also consist of an essentially loose substratum and are therefore an analogously difficult habitat. They are colonised almost exclusively by clay-binding vegetation such as the Esparto Grass (Lygeum spartum, Halfa) and the Truncated Canary Grass (Phalaris truncata, Skalora salvagga). Since the dominant vegetation consists essentially of grasses, it is often referred to as clay steppe.