Forest: Mediterranean forests are generally composed of broadleaf trees, such as

the oak and mixed sclerophyll forests of California and the Mediterranean regio
n, the Eucalyptus forests of Southwest Australia, and the Nothofagus forests of
central Chile. Forests are often found in riparian areas, where they receive mor
e summer water. Coniferous forests also occur, especially around the Mediterrane
an. Pine and deciduous oak forest are widespread across California
Woodland: Oak woodlands are characteristic of the Mediterranean Basin and in Cal
ifornia. Pine woodlands are also present in the Mediterranean Basin. California
additionally has walnut woodlands.
Savanna and grassland: The California Central Valley grasslands are the largest
Mediterranean grassland eco-region, although these grasslands have mostly been c
onverted to agriculture. The remaining woodlands feature mainly oak, walnut and
pine. The cork oak savanna in Portugal, known as montado, is a good example of a
mediterranean savanna.
Shrubland: Shrublands are dense thickets of evergreen sclerophyll shrubs and sma
ll trees. They are most common near the seacoast, and are often adapted to wind
and salt air from the ocean. They are called chaparral (California and southern
Portugal), matorral in Chile and southern Spain, garrigue or maquis in France, m
acchia or gariga in Italy, phrygana in Greece, tomillares in Spain, fynbos and s
trandveld in South Africa, kwongan in Southwest Australia and batha in Israel. N
orthern coastal scrub and coastal sage scrub, also known as soft chaparral, occu
r near the California coast. In some places shrublands are of the mature vegetat
ion type, and in other places are the result of degradation of former forest or
woodland by logging or overgrazing, or disturbance by major fires.