One of the most extensive forests on Crete, is the Simi pine forest with the dominant species being the Calabrian pine (Pinus brutia) with large stands of oak, and cypress and other species like maple, holm oak and holly.
At the higher altitudes in particular are to be found the mountain phrygana – made up of boxthorn, low examples of oak and dwarf cherry. Lower down are very thick extents of maquis – carob, lentisk, broom, Spanish broom, and of phyrgana with many aromatic herbs (majoram, prickly burnet, thyme, pygmy Jerusalem sage, wall germander etc) and pine thickets.
