Monte blanco

In the Doñana National Park (SW Spain), locally called "cotos" are shrublands representing an intermediate stage of the mature Mediterranean forest, occupying ancient dunes stabilized by vegetation. The soil is poor in nutrients, sandy, acid and very dry.
The "monte blanco" (white land) is formed by rockroses (Halimium halimifolium, Cistus salvifolius, Cistus libanotis). Other woody species appear in drier and exposed areas, such as lavender (Lavandula stoechas), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), marjoram (Thymus mastichina) and occasional cork oaks (Quercus suber). The name "monte blanco" is due to Halimium plants, which give the landscape a light gray color.