Buttress Roots
Buttress Roots are large roots on the sides of trees. In Costa Rica, these roots line the forest floor. This is because they are found in rainforest soils which are poor in nutrients. Like the name suggests, these roots buttress keep the tree from falling down. The roots may also intertwine with buttress roots of other trees, making an intricate mesh which may support surrounding trees. The buttress roots not only support the tree, they also provide it with more nutrients. They do this by spreading horizontally, which gives the tree a wider area for gathering nutrients. Nutrients are essential to a trees survival.
Person: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/481603753874448957/
darker tree: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Buttress_roots.JPG |