Garrigue: Difference between revisions

{{RefimproveMore citations needed|date=March 2010}}

[[Image:Garrigue 2007-09-20.JPG|thumb|250px|Garrigue, in [[France]].]]

'''Garrigue''' or '''garigue''' ({{IPAc-en|ɡ|ə|ˈ|r|iː|ɡ}} {{respell|gə|REEG}}), also known as '''phrygana''' ({{lang-el|φρύγανα}} {{IPA-el|ˈfriɣana|}}, [[neuter gender|n.]] [[plural|pl.]]),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.archive.org/stream/conspectusflora06halgoog/conspectusflora06halgoog_djvu.txt|title = Conspectus florae graecae|year = 1901}}</ref> is a type of low, soft-leaved [[scrubland]] [[ecoregion]] and [[plant community]] in the [[Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub]] [[biome]].

It is found on [[limestone]] soils in [[southern France]] and around the [[Mediterranean Basin]], generally near the seacoast where the moderated [[Mediterranean climate]] provides annual summer [[drought]]. It is an anthropogenic [[Forest degradation|degradation]] and [[Ecological succession|succession]] form of former [[evergreen]] oak forests that existed until around 2500 years BC.<ref>{{cite web

| title = Garrigues en pays languedocien
| language = Frenchfr

| year = 2007
| accessdateaccess-date = 9 March 2010

| accessdateaccess-date = 9 March 2010

</ref><ref>''Garrigue, une histoire qui ne manque pas de piquant'', Ecolodoc no. 7 - Éditions Écologistes de l’Euzière, avril 2007 {{ISBN |978-2-906128-20-0}}</ref>

The term has also found its way into [[haute cuisine]], suggestive of the resinous flavours of a garrigue [[shrubland]].<ref>[http://www.saultenprovence.com/GB/ProduitsDetail.asp?IdProduit=34 Bienvenue sur le site officiel de l'office de tourisme de la région de Sault<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061021002854/http://www.saultenprovence.com/GB/ProduitsDetail.asp?IdProduit=34 |date=2006-10-21 }}</ref>

[[File:Garrigue herault.jpg|thumb|250px|Garrigue in [[Languedoc]], [[Midi-PyrénéesOccitania (administrative region)|Occitanie]].]]

UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre described garrigue as "discontinuous bushy associations of the Mediterranean [[calcareous]] [[plateau]]s, which have relatively [[alkaline soil]]s. It is often composed of [[kermes oak]], [[lavender]], [[thyme]], and white [[cistus]]. There may be a few isolated trees."<ref>[http://www.unep-wcmc.org/forest/eu_gap/Technical%20Report.pdf UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, "European Forests and Protected Areas: Gap Analysis", 2000] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929124258/http://www.unep-wcmc.org/forest/eu_gap/Technical%20Report.pdf |date=2007-09-29 }} (pdf file)</ref><ref>Renault, J.-M. (2000): La Garrigue - grandeur nature. - Barcelona: Les créations du Pélican.</ref><ref>Hubert Delobette, Alice Dorques, ''Trésors retrouvés de la garrigue'', Le Papillon Rouge Éditeur, 2003 {{ISBN |2-9520261-0-6}}</ref>

Aside from dense thickets of kermes oak that punctuate the garrigue landscape, [[juniper]] and stunted [[Quercus ilex|holly oak]]s and [[Quercus rotundifolia|holm oak]]s are the typical trees; aromatic lime-tolerant shrubs such as [[lavender]], [[Salvia officinalis|sage]], [[rosemary]], [[wild thyme]] and ''[[Artemisia (plant)|Artemisia]]'' are common garrigue plants.

''Garrigue'' is a common general word for the shrubland [[habitat]] [[ecosystem]]s in southern France along with [[Maquis shrubland|Maquismaquis]], which are known elsewhere in the [[Mediterranean region]] as: [[matorral]] and ''tomillarestomillar'' in Spain;, [[macchia]] in Italy;, ''phrygana'' in Greece;, ''garig'' in Croatia;, and ''batha'' in [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]] or ''horesh'' in [[Israel]].

In [[California chaparral and woodlands|California]] a similar Mediterranean climate [[ecoregion]] is named [[chaparral]]; in [[Chile]] it's is named the [[Chilean Matorral|Chilean matorral]]; in [[South Africa]] it's is named [[fynbos]]; and in [[Western Australia|Australia]] it's is named [[Esperance Mallee Woodlands and Shrublands|mallee]]. All are in the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome.

Both garrigue and maquis are associated with the [[Mediterranean climate]] within the [[Mediterranean region]]. However, the distinction is not clear and term use is inconsistent.

[[Maquis shrubland]] is broadly similar to garrigue, but the vegetation is more densedenser, being composed of numerous closely spaced shrubs. Maquis is associated with siliceous (acid) soils, unlike the relatively alkaline [[calcareous]] soils of the garrigue. Its plant communities are often suites associated with [[HolmQuercus Oakrotundifolia|holm oak]]. [[Calcifuges]] such as ''[[Erica (plant)|Erica]]'' and ''[[Calluna]]'' are present in the Maquismaquis [[ecoregion]].

[[Deforestation]] of the indigenous oak forest since the [[Late Bronze Age]], for cultivation of olives[[olive]]s, [[viticulture|vines]] and grain, the introduction of sheep and especially goats and charcoal-making for heat and iron-working, exposed the land surface to weathering and resulted in [[erosion]] of the topsoil.<ref>Braudel, Fernand. ''The Mediterranean in the Age of Philip II''</ref> The wild garrigue, then, is a man-formed landscape. The intensity of grazing pressure has had a direct response in the [[ecotope]], reflected today in the decline of goat-pasturing.<ref>Z. Henkin ''et al.'', "Suitability of Mediterranean oak woodland for beef herd husbandry" ''Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment'' '''109'''.3/4, (September 2005:255-261).</ref>

First cited in the [[French language|French]] in 1546, the singular word ''garrigue'' is borrowed from the [[Provençal dialect of Occitan|Provençal]] ''garriga,'' equivalent to [[oldOld French]] ''jarrie.''. Etymologist Oscar Bloch states thatThe itterm is most likely related to the[[Gascon dialect|Gascon]] ''{{lang|oc|carroc,''}} meaning ''"rock''" and to the[[Swiss German|Germanic Swiss]] ''Karren,'', a kind of [[sedimentary rock]]. These related words could stemderive from a supposed source such as ''*carra,'' or ''"rock,''" which could beperhaps a remnant of a pre-LatinRoman language, to judge from its geographic distribution even before Celtic times, and possibly akin to [[Basque language|Basque]] ''*karr-'', ''harri'', '"rock'."<ref>Bloch, Oscar, ''Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française,'' p. 275.</ref> It is thought that Gallic[[Gaulish]] and then [[Latin]] incorporatedappear theseto wordshave andborrowed then''*carra'', transmittedwhich themevolved ininto variousits formsmodern todescendants thein [[Romance languages]].<ref>Bloch, Oscar: "Garrigue," page 270, ''Dictionnaire Etymologique,'' Paris, 1950</ref>

Grapes that are grown in the ''garrigues'' region of France are said to produce [[French wine|wines]] with a "barnyard" or "earthy" tone, or "the herbal scent of lavender that fills the hills of Provence in the summer time." <ref>{{cite web

| date = March 2000
| accessdateaccess-date = 9 March 2010

*'''{{CommonscatCommons category-inline|Garrigue}}'''

*{{CommonscatCommons category-inline|Maquis (vegetation)}}

*{{CommonscatCommons category-inline|Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub}}

[[Category:Flora of the Mediterranean| Basin]]