Evergreen sclerophyllous or lauriphyllous shrub vegetation, with a more or less closed canopy structure, and with few annuals, some geophytes and often scattered trees, some of which may be in shrub form. Unlike arborescent matorral, maquis is typically dominated by species that do not have the potential to grow into tall trees. In high maquis these may be Arbutus spp., Erica arborea, Erica scoparia, Juniperus oxycedrus, Phillyrea spp. In low maquis, Cistus spp., Erica spp., Genista spp., Lavandula spp. may predominate.
Lower (usually less than one metre) western Mediterranean maquis rich in Calluna vulgaris, Erica scoparia, Erica cinerea or sometimes low Erica arborea, often accompanied by Cistus spp., Lavandula stoechas and various brooms.