Here, in france the words 'maquis' and 'Corse' (Corsica Island) are so close that we're always saying the 'maquis corse', they go together. And when you land at the Ajaccio airport and open the doors, even if you don't know where you are you can smell it and guess where you are.7 main species can be found in maquis : arbutus unedo, myrtus communis, cistus (sorry don't remember the species), erica arborea, quercus ilex, phillyrea latifolia and pistacia lentiscus.
Speaking of etymology, "maquis" have an island origin : the scrubland makes a sort of splash ("macchia") in the landscape.
But botanists give the word of maquis to any woody populations more or less thick, not too high, who occupy siliceous grounds in mediterranean climate. So you can also find 'maquis' in France mainland (compared to Corsica island) in the 'Maures' and 'Esterel'massifs in Provence. The maquis occurs in the forests destroyed by fires and human action. Now, it can occurs too in the deserted fields (declining of agriculture).
Hope this helps and add an idea of french vision.
Chantal Guiraud
MGS Seed list administrator
Montpellier-France
