Included here is virtually all of the maritime zones surrounding the Adriatic, most of which has a Mediterranean climate. Macchia is the local name for chaparral-type vegetation in Italy and Croatia, which is more generally known as maquis in the Mediterranean.

Adriatic Juniperus phoenicea Macchia

On many Adriatic islands, such as Hvar, Lopod, Mljet, Murter, Unije and Veliki, there is a macchia belt between the coastal halophytic vegetation and the coastal forest of holm oak or aleppo pine. It is typically dominated by Juniperus phoenicea and Pistacia lentiscus and seems to be a successional stage in the development of evergreen forest. This is borne out by the fact that it develops in the wake of man on abandoned pasture, olive groves and vineyards.  Associated species include Allium subhirsutum, Asparagus acutifolius, Cistus salviifolius, Ephedra fragilis, Galium corrudifolium, Juniperus oxycedrus, Myrtus communis, Rhamnus alaternus and several endemic taxa such as Rhamnus intermedius (Rhamnaceae), Sesleria autumnalis (Poaceae) and Tanacetum cinerariifolium (Asteraceae).

References

Forenbacher, S. 2001. Velebit Range – Treasure of Croatian Flora. Croatian Medical Journal, 42: 111-112.

Horvat, I, Glavac, V & Ellenberg, H. 1974. Vegetation of Southeast Europe. Gustav Fischer Verlag. Stuttgart.

Lovric, A. Z. 1997. Dry coastal ecosystems of Croatia and Yugoslavia. In: Ecosystems of the World 2C  Dry Coastal Ecosystems  - Polar Regions and Europe. Ed. Eddy van der Marel. Elsevier.

Milovic, M. 2002. The flora of Sibenik and its surroundings. Natura Croatica, 11: 171-223.

Pandza M. 2001. Vegetation of Phoenician juniper macchia–Pistacio Lentisci-Juniperetum Phoeniceae Trinajstiv 1987 (Oleo-Ceratonion Br.-Bl.) on the island of Murter and the small surrounding islands. Natura Croatica, 10: 105-117.

Rac, M. & Lovric, A. Z. 2002. Benthic and xeric vegetation of remote islands Susac and Kopisce and of the adjacent seafloors in southern Adriatic. Periodicum Biologorum, 104: 139-147.