The main factor affecting vegetation formations distribution in each climate and microclimate in Israel, is the structure and character of rock-soil system. Plant species adopt specific water regime in the rock-soil systems as habitat, dependent on their physiological characters.
In chalk, rainfall penetrates the porous rock, followed by slow infiltration along potential gradient toward the roots. The porosity and hardness of the chalk, as well as soil pocket size, have significant influence on the vegetation species. Quercus calliprinos maquis grow on porous and soft chalk. Q. ithaburensis woodland grow on moderate chalk with soil-pockets. However, on hard chalk only garrigue and batha develops.
In limestone, rainwater comprised with CO2 create weak acid, and dissolves the upper rock. In dolomite, where dissolving is limited, infiltration water may remain aggressive, forming karstic voids by dissolving at the epikarst.
Consequently, deep soil pockets in the karstic system support deep roots of Q. calliprinos to form maquis. Upper Galilee region shows changing between forests, maquis and lower vegetation formation respectively to the rock-soil system and the precipitation amount in each site.