Buttress Tree Roots - Costa Rica - Rain Forest
Buttress roots (stilt roots or prop roots) are large roots on all sides of a shallowly rooted tree. Typically, they are found in nutrient-poor rainforest soils and do not penetrate to deeper layers. Almost all types of mangroves have these type of roots. They prevent the tree from falling over (hence the name buttress) while also gathering more nutrients. Buttresses are tension elements, being larger on the side away from the stress of asymmetrical canopies. The roots may intertwine with buttress roots from other trees and create an intricate mesh, which may help support trees surrounding it. They can grow up to 30 feet tall and spread for 30 meters above the soil then for another 30 meters below. When the roots spread horizontally, they are able to cover a wider area for collecting nutrients. They stay near the upper soil layer because all the main nutrients are found there.
These extended roots also increase the area over which nutrients can be absorbed from the soil.
Have you ever traveled to a rain forest?
I almost live in a rain forest but not quite. We do have mangroves right behind our very small backyard.
ReplyDeleteOther exotics that live down here that have similar roots are banyans and strangler figs.
Neat post!
Terry
Fla.
Had to look up your trees. Vimeo has some great videos on them, by the way.
DeleteNothing like them up here. :0(
Ya know why they started calling it the "rain forest", right?
ReplyDeleteBecause, no one wants to save the FUCKING JUNGLE!!