Mattoral

Mattoral also Matorral [ Ecology ]

Dictionary of botanic terminology - index of names


	The Mattoral is a plant community or ecosystem characteristic of the regions with Mediterranean type climates. Also known with the local names of chaparral (California); maquis (Mediterranean), Mattoral (Chile), Mallee Scrub (Australia), Fynbos (South Africa:)

It is a community of drought tolerant plants (xerophytes) dominated by shrubs that grow in arid or pre-desertic regions that are hot and dry in summer (often receiving almost no precipitation for half the year) and cool and moist in winter. Mattoral Shrubland show similar kinds of life forms in the five earth region dominated by the mattoral type ecosystems (but different genera and/or families!) A general subdivision of the mattoral types comprise: • Mattoral sarcocaule (Sarcocaul shrubland): Characterised by thick-stemmed trees and shrubs • Mattoral crasicaule (Crasicaul shrubland) characterised by the presence of succulent species, with a predominance of cacti • Mattoral sarco-crasicaule (Sarcocrasicaul Scrublands): shrublands characterised by mixed communities of the above. dominates by cacti, many of which have candelabra forms and tall stalks. • Matorral desertico microfilo (Microphyllous Scrublands): shrublands which are dominated by non-spiny, deciduous leaved plants which only occasionally have persistent leaves. Herbaceous and semi-shrub species are most common. Usually the particular Mattoral from a specific area take the name of the area of origin. For example the Mattoral Espinoso Tamaulipense (on the photos ) is a type of vegetation existing in Tamaulipas and extending to the northern Nuevo León, Coahuila, and southern Texas.

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Holdfast roots [ Botany ]
Dictionary of botanic terminology - index of names

Some species of climbing plants develop holdfast roots which help to support the vines on trees, walls, and rocks. By forcing their way into minute pores and crevices, they hold the plant firmly in place.

Climbing plants, like the poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata), and trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans), develop holdfast roots which help to support the vines on trees, walls, and rocks. By forcing their way into minute pores and crevices, they hold the plant firmly in place. Usually the Holdfast roots die at the end of the first season, but in some species they are perennial. In the tropics some of the large climbing plants have hold-fast roots by which they attach themselves, and long, cord-like roots that extend downward through the air and may lengthen and branch for several years until they strike the soil and become absorbent roots.

Major references and further lectures:
1) E. N. Transeau “General Botany” Discovery Publishing House, 1994