Chaparral, << `chap` uh RAL, >> is a region of shrubs and small trees. Chaparrals occur in areas with mild, moist winters and hot, dry summers. Ecologists regard the chaparral as a biome. A biome is a community of animals, plants, and other living things in a large geographic area (see Biome ). Chaparrals are found in the Mediterranean region. They also occur from southern California into Baja California in Mexico. Other chaparrals are in parts of Chile, southern Australia, and South Africa.
Trees found in North American chaparrals include manzanita, mountain mahogany, and scrub oak. One of the most common plants is the chamise shrub. Most chaparral plants have tough, crooked branches and thick, leathery leaves that do not fall off in winter. Few of the plants grow more than 10 feet (3 meters) tall. In some areas, plants grow so densely that people cannot walk through them. Animals that live on North American chaparrals include coyotes, mule deer, and lizards.
Fires frequently occur on chaparrals. Certain shrubs that grow there contain highly flammable materials called essential oils. However, some chaparral shrubs produce new sprouts even after a fire has destroyed their stems and branches. As a result, the plants regrow soon after a fire. Chaparrals are important to people who live near mountains. The vegetation serves as a natural barrier against erosion and floods.
