Re: "mediterranean"

In a message dated 21/11/00 01:03:43 GMT Standard Time, cdills@charter.net 
writes:
 I've looked in several books but I haven't found a detailed
specific descripton of what is considered a "mediterranean" climate. I am
of course aware of the rather general and unspecific description of dry
sum,meras and wet winters.
    Is there a more specific description and if so, what is it?
    ---Chas---
Chas, sorry, meant to mail before, couldn't find the reference.[ My amateur 
translation from French ] "Flore des Arbres Arbustes et Arbrisseaux region 
mediterraneenne."pub. La Maison Rustique. Librarie Agricole, Horticole, 
Forestiere et Menagere.
"The Medit. region is above all defined by its climate: heavy rain in autumn 
and winter, summer rain rare, irregular and violent which is poorly absorbed 
by the vegetation. Summers hot and dry, winters mild, and frost rare along 
the coast. Bright light is important. Although less marked in other regions 
of the Med. these characteristics are well defined in France.
The physical characteristics although secondary are also important. High 
altitudes exist near the coast and because of this there are two different 
sorts of vegetation in the strictest definition of the medit area, and a 
third type of veg. due to the med. influence."
It then defines these areas, and goes on:"The strictly defined limits for the 
Med region used to be the culture of olives [olea europaea ] but we prefer 
the association with the evergreen oak [quercus ilex]." 
The reason they give is that the olive is less widely cultivated than it used 
to be. They also say that this oak is not fussy about soil as long as it gets 
sufficient heat, as the temperature drops it becomes  fussy about the soil 
and choses the more calcareous spots. [ "calcicole-thermique"]
I hope this is helpful.
Best wishes Jennifer
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