Shrubland

Shrubland, scrubland, scrub, brush, or bush is a

Shrubland may be unsuitable for human habitation because of the danger of fire. The term was coined in 1903.^[1]

Shrubland species generally show a wide range of

There is a descriptive system widely adopted in Australia to describe different types of vegetation is based on structural characteristics based on plant life-form, as well as the height and foliage cover of the tallest stratum or dominant species.^[4]

For shrubs that are 2–8 metres (6.6–26.2 ft) high, the following structural forms are categorized:

• dense foliage cover (70–100%) — closed-shrubs
• mid-dense foliage cover (30–70%) — open-shrubs
• sparse foliage cover (10–30%) — tall shrubland
• very sparse foliage cover (<10%) — tall open shrubland

For shrubs less than 2 metres (6.6 ft) high, the following structural forms are categorized:

• dense foliage cover (70–100%) — closed-
  heath
  or closed low shrubland—(North America)
• mid-dense foliage cover (30–70%) — open-heath or mid-dense low shrubland—(North America)
• sparse foliage cover (10–30%) — low shrubland
• very sparse foliage cover (<10%) — low open shrubland

Similarly, shrubland is a category that is used to describe a type of biome plant group. In this context, shrublands are dense thickets of evergreen sclerophyll shrubs and small trees,^[5] called:

• Chaparral in California
• Matorral in Chile, Mexico, and Spain
• Mediterranean
• Macchia in Italy
• Fynbos in South Africa
• Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub in Sydney
• Kwongan in Southwest Australia
• Cedar scrub in Texas Hill Country
• Caatinga in northeastern Brazil

In some places, shrubland is the mature vegetation type. In other places, it is the result of degradation of former forest or woodland by logging or overgrazing, or disturbance by major fires.^{[citation needed]}

A number of