Cactus on a rocky coast of French Riviera is a photograph by Maja Sokolowska which was uploaded on July 31st, 2014.
Cactus on a rocky coast of French Riviera
A photo of cactus growing on the rocky coast of calanques in southern France, Cote Dazur.The calanques have a particular ecosystem, as soil is almost... more
Title
Cactus on a rocky coast of French Riviera
Artist
Maja Sokolowska
Medium
Photograph
Description
A photo of cactus growing on the rocky coast of calanques in southern France, Cote Dazur.The calanques have a particular ecosystem, as soil is almost non-existent there, and the limestone cliffs instead contain numerous cracks into which the roots of plants are anchored. Nevertheless, the biota is diverse, with over 900 plant species, including a number of endemics like the Marseille Tragacanth and Sabline de Marseille: members of the Papilionaceae family, which can only be found in the hills of Marseille.
In places where cliffs are less vertical, the vegetation is a classical Mediterranean maquis, typically consisting of densely growing evergreen shrubs such as sage, juniper and myrtle. It is similar to heath in many aspects, but with taller shrubs, typically 2�4 m high as opposed to 0.2�1 m for heath.
Like anywhere on Mediterranean coast, Calanques' climate is arid, with moisture during much of the year coming only from evaporation of the sea. This xericity associated with the salt spray conditions the subsistence of an adapted vegetation.
The calanques also shelter rabbits, foxes, large crows and Bonelli's eagles, as well as many reptiles and wild boars.
Uploaded
July 31st, 2014
